The state Commander of the NDLEA, Dandi Emmanuel, stated this in Ilorin on Wednesday at a press conference on the commencement of activities to commemorate the 2019 International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking.
The United Nations had designated June 26 as the day against drug trafficking, with the theme for this year being ‘Justice for Health, Health for Justice’.
Emmanuel said of the total seizures made by the NDLEA, 4,213.45 kilograms were Cannabis Sativa, while 76.825 kilograms were other drugs, including tramadol, valium, codeine, ephedrine and caffeine.
The commander said although Kwara was not known for the cultivation of cannabis, the substance was being imported from neighbouring states and countries through the borders, and was heavily consumed in the state.
“Although there is not yet confirmation that Kwara State is among the states known for the cultivation of cannabis, compressed cannabis comes to the state from Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Togo and Benin Republic through the borders, and if we don’t want to deceive ourselves, 99 per cent of the drugs that come into the state are consumed in the state,” Emmanuel stated.
He said the agency also arrested 91 suspects made up of 77 males and 14 females, while 29 accused persons put on trial were convicted during the period under review.
The commander added that the agency similarly rehabilitated five persons, who were re-united with their families, while 15 others were counselled against the use of drugs.
Emmanuel, who said that the agency was partnering the state Drug Control Committee to produce sensitisation and advocacy programmes for the people, lamented that the command was facing problems of inadequate funding and shortage of personnel to carry out its functions effectively.
He appealed to both the federal and state governments to provide funds and necessary logistics for the NDLEA in order for it to function efficiently.
In her address, the Chairperson, Kwara State Drug Control Committee, Mrs Barrakat Olanrewaju, said since drug use affect everybody in the society, “it is expedient that we collaborate to overcome this scourge ravaging the entire fabric of every nation of the world, especially Nigeria.”
She said the excellent performance of the committee, which has collaborated with stakeholders, had led to the decision of the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime to designate Kwara as a pilot state to play a leading role in drug control in the North-Central states, including the Federal Capital Territory.
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