The Honourable Member representing Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu Federal Constituency, Dr. Francis Ottah Agbo has Congratulated the chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) Brig-General Mohammed Buba Marwa on his 68th birthday.
Dr. Ottah Agbo in a statement by his Media Adviser, Mr. Andrew Agbese said as Marwa clocks 68 on Thursday, it is his prayer that God grants the NDLEA chairman more years in good health to keep delivering on the core NDLEA mandate of combating drug abuse and sanitizing the narcotic drug industry!
While acknowledging that the war against narcotic drug addiction is far from being won, Dr. Ottah Agbo said the NDLEA was dead before Marwa resurrected it, and recorded enviable feat within a short time, stressing that only a ‘magician’ in Marwa can do that.
He assured Marwa of his continuous partnership and urged him to consolidate on his robust relationship with President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly to mainstream the war against drug abuse in Nigeria.
He called on Marwa to lobby the Executive in this year’s budget to make provision for the building of NDLEA barracks across the country as well as sufficient funds for the purchase of sophisticated weapons and communication working aids, arguing that, as a policing institution doing a dangerous job of combating drug abuse, it will make a big sense if NDLEA officers/ men have secure environment that separates them from drug criminals.
Dr. Ottah Agbo added: “NDLEA was dead. We were preparing for its requiem mass before Marwa was appointed its Chairman/ CEO. He immediately hit the ground running and jolted NDLEA back to life in less than a year! He has done what his predecessor could not do in five years.
“NDLEA under his watch is rebranding Nigeria through the arrest of drugs traffickers and seizures of large quantities nacortic drugs and other substances. All these are giving the country a good name, though more still needs to be done…
“As for me and my committee, we shall continue to support you and ensure that your budget is expeditiously treated…
“It is on record that since the coming of Marwa in January, this year, the NDLEA has made over 8,634 arrests, secured over 1,630 convictions and has seized over 3 million kilograms of drugs and over N100 billion in cash and still counting.”
The Lawmaker who chairs the Committee on Narcotic Drugs said these feats are better appreciated given the number of citizens the seizure has saved from the harmful effect of drugs if these illicit substances had found their way to the drug market.
The Lawmaker who is also the Spokesman of the Minority Caucus, said the crackdown on the drug trade has also reduced the number of violent crimes that would have been carried out under the influence of such drugs while it has also earned respect for Nigeria as a nation committed to the global war on drugs.
Dr. Ottah Agbo also believes the appointment of Marwa as NDLEA boss, and the turn around of the agency have raised his hope that the fight against the menace of drug and the abuse of substances can be won.
He added: “You’re indeed a golden fish and turn around expert, who has no hiding place. You never failed to shine wherever you find yourself since your days as Military Administrator in Borno and later Lagos State to when you served as High Commissioner, to now that you’re chairing the NDLEA.
“On behalf of my family, the House Committee on Nacortic Drugs and the long suffering people of Ado/ Ogbadibo/ Okpokwu Federal Constituency, I wish you radiant health, divine favour and greater success in the years ahead” the statement concluded.
