The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Badagry, Lagos State, on Thursday destroyed drugs and psychotropic substances weighing 100 tonnes.
Speaking during the exercise in its Badagry office, the Chief Executive of NDLEA, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Rtd, said the quantity was unacceptably high considering the fact that Lagos was not known for large scale production of any of these drugs.
“We are, however, not unmindful of the peculiarity of Lagos being a state with an increasingly large population, relatively easy transportation network and accessibility through sea and land borders, all of which enhance drug trafficking.
“It is in the realisation of these features that we have ensured an adequate number of formations in Lagos to address the identified enhancers.
The NDLEA formations in Lagos cover the hinterland, land borders, sea and airport ports in order to achieve effective coverage.
“The results are these huge seizures of drugs and psychotropic substances,” he said.
He said the agency destroyed a total of 129.7 tonnes of illicit drugs in Taraba, Gombe, Kogi, Delta and Nasarawa states in 2019.
“The public destruction of these drugs are part of our strategic efforts to address the drug menace, although it keeps expanding.
“That is why we must all be involved in building a formidable resistance against the persistent drug problem.
“Government at all levels, community and religious leaders, parents, social workers, the media, youth organisations, and policymakers should see it as a point of duty to come together and identify with our office,” he said.
Mustapha expressed profound gratitude to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for his contributions toward tackling drug abuse.
He said with the population of over 20 million people in Lagos State, the majority of which were at a youthful age, the drug problem was really in the state.
Mustapha applauded the state government for creating Lagos State Kicks Against Drug Abuse (LASKADA), adding that it was a good initiative, but required more effort and investment to meet the needs of the state.
The Chairman also applauded the prompt response of sister agencies to the event, adding that it was a collective resolve to tackle head-on the menace of drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking that was ravaging the society.
It was gathered that men of the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Army, Port Health Service, Fire Brigade and Nigeria Police were on the ground during the burning of the drugs.
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