Of the 235 Nigerians jailed in Thailand for illicit drugs, 200 hail from Anambra State. That is why the state, in conjunction with National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is fighting to reverse the trend. NWANOSIKE ONU reports
Banned drugs are wreaking havoc in Anambra State. The government and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) are battling to tackle the problem. There may be some success in the war against Indian hemp but harder drugs such as cocaine and heroin seem to be proving tougher to contain. Two hundred of the 235 Nigerians in Thailand’s jails hail from the state, said Governor Willie Obiano at a forum organised to fashion out new ways to stop the illicit business.
Obiano was represented at the event by the Secretary to the State Government Prof Solo Chukwu-lobelu, who noted that some communities in the state had become havens for drug addicts.
This is frightening, he said, and must stop.
At the forum, stakeholders agreed that the fight against doing trafficking and abuse should be continuous adding that all hands must be on deck.
They spoke at the Prof. Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre in Awka, the state capital. They regretted the agency’s lack of resources to effectively to crush the illicit drug business.
The theme of the lecture was “Curbing Abuse and Trafficking in Illicit Drug in Nigeria, how far, how well”. Dr. Kabir Mato of the Department of Political Science and International Relations, University of Abuja was the guest lecturer.
In a paper, he advocated that states and local governments should provide more money for the NDLEA in order to effectively tackle the menace.
He said, “This support could come in form of logistics and monetary support in a coordinated manner, that would assist in confronting drug cartels, because such cartels are often financially very strong and willing to deploy huge resources to deal with any opposition as may come from the agency.”
He also said state and local governments should maintain and enforce drinking age limits and constantly monitor retailers for compliance as well as stop selling alcohol to drunks.
“State and local governments should enforce legal requirement for installation of ignition interlocks in the vehicles of those convicted of drug use and abuse-impaired driving,” he said. “State and local governments should strengthen and monitor prescription drug programmes and facilitate controlled drug disposal programmes, including policies allowing pharmacies to accept unwanted drugs.”
The state commander of NDLEA Mr. Sule Momodu said the aim of the lecture was to partner with communities and local government areas to see how to end the menace in the state.
He said in 2015 the command convicted 30 suspects, adding that the huge challenge was for the agency and the government to re-strategise.
Momodu asked, “If cannabis sativa challenge is reducing, why are heroin and cocaine on the increase in the state?” He said there was need to address the situation.
He thanked Governor Obiano for helping the agency in the state, adding that the governor had been in the forefront of NDLEA activities in the state.
It was suggested that building rehab centers might be necessary given the prevalence of the use and effects of prohibited drugs in the state, but Obiano said the state would want to be the first in the zone to do so. He would rather get Anambra residents off such drugs than herd them into rehab institutions.
