The Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum has assured the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) of his commitment to bolstering the current partnership between his government and the anti-narcotics agency to achieve the goal of a drug-free society across all 27 local government areas of the state.
Zulum gave the assurance when he hosted NDLEA Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (rtd.), who was on a three-day visit to the state, to mobilise relevant stakeholders to take ownership of the fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.
According to a statement on Wednesday by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi, Marwa commended the governor for his achievements, adding that everything must be done to drastically reduce demand for illicit drugs and cut down access and availability of psychoactive substances because of the nexus between illicit drugs and the security challenges facing the state and the country as a whole.
The statement partly read: “Zulum acknowledged Marwa’s inspiring leadership qualities everywhere he had served, including Borno as the state’s former military governor and his commitment to the drug fight. He assured the NDLEA boss of the readiness of his government to strengthen and enlarge the existing collaboration in the interest of law and order as well as humanity.”
While on his advocacy visit to the palace of Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Elkanemi, the NDLEA chairman also called for drug test for intending couples as part of conditions for the conduct of weddings.
He said: “This will discourage a lot of young people from going into substance abuse”.
In his response, the Shehu assured Marwa that all the 59 district heads under his emirate and the Chief Imam of Borno, Alhaji Zanna Laisu Ibrahim Ahmad present at the meeting will go back to their domains to implement the idea, including setting up drug control committees in their communities.
