HONLAF Summit: Tinubu says, “We’re committed to combating illicit drugs

The nation’s fight against substance misuse and the trafficking of illegal drugs is a priority for President Bola Tinubu’s government.

Additionally, Tinubu pledged that he would keep giving the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, or NDLEA, the assistance and resources it needs to carry out its duties.

According to a statement from the Director of Media & Advocacy at NDLEA Headquarters in Abuja, the President made the assurances on Tuesday at the Continental Hotel in Abuja as he opened the 31st meeting of Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies, Africa, or HONLAF.

Vice President Kashim Shettima spoke on behalf of Tinubu, who declared, “This administration will continue to offer the essential support, inspiration, and instruments for the NDLEA to execute its purpose. We comprehend the relationship between the accomplishment of a number of objectives on our socio-economic and security agenda and the success of the battle against substance misuse and illicit drug trafficking.

According to Tinubu, “the fight against drug trafficking and substance misuse is not only a matter of policy; it is also a moral obligation.

“Our ability to take proactive measures to stop anyone or any group from turning our nations into a minefield for drug trafficking has always been a source of strength. In order to provide our young with information and possibilities, we must prioritise prevention, education, and rehabilitation. We need to keep them off the dangerous path of drug usage and trafficking while also safeguarding our economy from the effects of their deeds, he continued.

The President asked conference attendees to take advantage of the chance to brainstorm fresh ideas for breaking up drug gangs across the African continent.

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), earlier urged his peers across the continent to build operational networks and raise the bar in the fight against drugs while noting the specifics of the 2023 world drug report as a challenge for Africa.

According to Marwa, “Drug use disorders are harming physical and mental health, safety, and well-being, while the harms caused by drug trafficking and the illicit drug economies are contributing to many of these threats, from instability and violence to environmental destruction.”

“We are all impacted by the global drug epidemic in all of its shapes and forms. Particularly for Africa, the stakes are really high. A problem of this magnitude cannot be solved by one nation acting alone, and the global drug problem cannot be solved only by international legislation; it also requires efficient implementation and cooperation among practitioners.

The HONLAF enters the picture here. The gathering is crucial because it gives its parent organisation, the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the chance to hear from practitioners and law enforcement professionals from throughout the continent about current regional drug patterns, dangers, and upcoming concerns. The global policy debate needs regional perspectives, and HONLAF is an opportunity to bring the African perspective to the fore. The meetings offer a forum for exchanging ideas and methods and learning from one another.

The UNODC Executive Director, Ghada Fathi Waly, and the Chairman of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs, both of whom made remarks via video messages, voiced support for the event and urged participants to take advantage of the opportunities it presents.

The presentation of a study on Organised Crime in Nigeria: A Threat Assessment (NOCTA), created by the National Institute for Security Studies in cooperation with security agencies and backed by the UNODC, was one of the ceremony’s highlights.