The Senate has declared a total war on narcotics, unveiling a robust three-pronged national strategy to dismantle drug trafficking networks, drastically reduce local demand, and scale up rehabilitation efforts for addicts.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics, Senator Joseph Ikpea (Edo Central), announced the legislative framework on Thursday during the public destruction of 73,463.21 kilograms of forfeited illicit drugs and psychotropic substances valued at ₦2.8 billion. The exercise was conducted by the Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Benin City.
While applauding the monumental seizure, Senator Ikpea emphasized that burning illicit substances is only part of the solution.
Destruction of drugs alone will not win this war.If we destroy 10 tonnes today and fail to stop the demand, traffickers will replace it with 20 tonnes tomorrow. Every kilogram of cocaine and truckload of cannabis destroyed today represents lives saved, but we must address the fundamental issues promoting this menace.
Senator Ikpea warned.
To achieve a long-term solution, the Senate’s newly developed framework focuses on three pillars:
Supply Reduction: Enacting stronger laws, securing better funding for the NDLEA, and fostering international cooperation to permanently cut off global and domestic trafficking routes.
Demand Reduction: Introducing early health awareness and education on the consequences of drug abuse directly into primary and secondary school curricula to empower youth to say “no” early in life.
Treatment and Rehabilitation: Recognizing addiction as a public health disease rather than a mere crime, expanding the footprint of rehabilitation centers, and destigmatizing treatment to reintegrate recovering citizens into society.
The massive haul of destroyed exhibits was dominated heavily by Cannabis sativa, which accounted for 73,210.23 kilograms. The remaining cache included 246.36 kilograms of psychotropic substances consisting of Tramadol, Codeine cough syrup, and Diazepam alongside quantities of Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Heroin.
A stern warning was issued to drug barons, stating, “Nigeria is no longer safe for your business. We will find you, we will seize your assets, and we will destroy your products in the full glare of the public.It also delivered a passionate plea to Nigerian students to avoid chasing a short-lived high that results in lifetime damage to their health and destinies.
Senator Ikpea
In a statement delivered by the NDLEA Director of Operations and General Investigation, Suleiman Ahmed Ningi, the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd), lauded the collaborative spirit driving the counter-narcotics campaign. Marwa extended appreciation to the Edo State Government for donating 20 plots of land to build a modern State Command Headquarters.
Speaking as the Special Guest of Honour, the Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo represented by Mrs. Edesili Anani, Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady and Chairperson of the Edo State Drug Control Committee reiterated the state’s alignment with the federal onslaught. Governor Okpebholo connected the war on drugs directly to the fight against wider national security challenges like kidnapping and banditry, revealing advanced plans by his administration to construct a state-of-the-art rehabilitation center.
The Senate commended the joint efforts of the NDLEA, Nigeria Customs Service, NAFDAC, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Judiciary, pledging continued legislative support, enhanced welfare, and upgraded operational equipment to win the war for the soul of the nation.
