Chijioke Iremeka The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, says one key initiative it put in place to drastically reduce substance abuse and provide treatment for those in need was to establish 30 treatment and counselling centres across the country.
He said the agency chooses the path of awareness as a preventive measure, stressing that when people know the dangers associated with the substance they are about to abuse or abuse, they may likely retrace their steps. The NDLEA boss, who spoke in Abuja when the Executive Director of the Vanguard Against Drug Abuse, Dr Hope Omeiza, paid a courtesy visit to the agency to strengthen the campaign against substance abuse, said with awareness and education, drug abusers would be deterred. He noted that for those already abusing substances, the NDLEA has a responsibility to provide help for them, saying, “And that’s why we have treatment and counselling centres across the country.
We have 30 of them across our Commands.” Marwa said the visit has strengthened the partnership on the campaign against drug abuse, treatment and rehabilitation of drug users. The chairman, who was represented by the NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, said that the agency had gone further to see how other states could be mobilised to support rehabilitated Nigerians with skills that will help them to re-integrate into society.
Marwa said to address drug abuse and protect those afraid of stigmatizat.