Over 15million Nigerians Abuse Drugs; We Cannot Legalise Cannabis – Anti-Narcotics Agency, NDLEA

We have about 15million Nigerians that use drugs, and that is a very high prevalence.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said Nigeria cannot imitate other countries legalising cannabis cultivation and usage due to the evil it would bring to the country.

The chairman/chief executive of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd), said this yesterday when he hosted a delegation of Media Trust management, led by the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of Media Trust Group (MTG), Mounir Gwarzo, in his office. 

“It is everywhere. And it’s actually the number one problem because it is also at the root of the criminalities. We have about 15million Nigerians that use drugs, and that is a very high prevalence, which is approaching three times the global prevalence. When you talk drugs, it is everywhere every community has this problem, and it is now in families and neighborhoods; it is critical for all of us as stakeholders to stand up and face this challenge,” he said.

He said it was in that line that the president launched the war against drug abuse last year.

“The purpose of the war against drug abuse is to sensitise and to make Nigerians themselves take the ownership of this war as their own personnel war because we are all affected,” Marwa said.

Speaking earlier, Mounir Gwarzo, commended the NDLEA and Marwa for the successes of the organisation.

“I am very happy to see that the NDLEA is doing extremely well. Daily Trust has been covering the excellent activities you have been doing, and we want to continue to partner with you to continue to do what is right for the country.”

Marwa also commended the Media Trust Group for creating a niche for itself, based on competence, ethics and professionalism.