By James Isaac
The House of Representatives has advocated for an increase in budget for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to enable it curb drugs and its negative impact.
This call was made by House Committee Chairman on Narcotics and Drugs, Hon.Abass Aboworin Adigun on Thursday during and interactive session.
He posited that if the Agency is not empowered to tackle drugs offenders headlong, the future of the country will be in jeopardy.
Speaking further, he noted that, the only way the Agency can be properly funded is to move it from the office of the Special Duty to the Presidency where it would be funded directly from the Presidency.
Joining other Committee members,the Chairman commended the good job the Agency under the Former Lagos State Military Administrator is doing despite been under funded and urged the leadership of the Agency to keep the fire burning pending when the bill to move the Agency to Presidency is passed by both Chambers and forwarded to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for assent.
He added that the House has already passed the Bill, and expressed optimism that the Red Chamber will do same to enable the Agency to have more power in the fight against drug offenders.
Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), while addressing the Committee made passionate appeal for the setting up of a Special Court to enable the Agency expedite the process of prosecution and conviction of offenders as at when due.
He noted that as it is at the moment, prosecution of offenders and conviction is delayed because the regular Courts are overwhelmed with several cases, as such call for several adjournment for a case that should ordinarily be decided within three months, ends up been delayed for years.
Marwa, noted that the task of educating the young ones on the dangers of drug abuse also rest squarely on the politicians.
He added that politicians themselves are into drugs, therefore, they need to go back and educate their supporters on the need to stop taking drugs.
For emphasis Marwa said, “our job at the Agency is to make sure we denied people access to illicit drugs.”
