Pubdate: Sat, 16 Aug 2003 Source: Guardian, The (Nigeria) Copyright: 2003 The Guardian Newspapers Limited Contact: http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2964 Author: Femi Adekoya and Sunday Aikulola NDLEA, UN AGENCY ALIGN TO CURB DRUG TRAFFICKING AS part of measures to enforce the fight against drugs in Nigeria and the West African Sub-region, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the United Nations' Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have signed a pact to up-grade the Jos Training Academy to a regional training outfit. Addressing journalists at the signing ceremony in Lagos, yesterday, the Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Mr. Bello Lafiaji said that the project which has been slated to go for five-and-a half years would bring about international co-operation in the fight against drugs. According to him, "the fight against drugs requires good intelligence, excellent professional practice and close collaboration with other nations and stakeholders; thus the signing of the agreement has served as a stepping stone to getting the correct and current training at International Standards that will greatly enhance the performance of drug law enforcement officers in Nigeria and the West African sub-region. He said that the project came up as a result of the idea and commitment which he has in ensuring that the academy is established and expressed gratitude to the President, Olusegun Obasanjo and the United States' government who have contributed to making the project a success. The UDODC's representative in Nigeria, Mr. Paul M. Salary in his address said that the successful execution of the project which took over two years before its actualisation, will have major implications for drug control implementation in Nigeria and indeed the entire West African sub-region. Highlighting the mandates of the project which includes, Up-grading of training of facilities for basic and advanced courses for Nigerian law enforcement personnel, delivering of International Services which includes drug and related training courses at advanced and specialised levels to law enforcement officers from Nigeria and ECOWAS countries; service as a centre for drug testing and analysis for training purposes, he said their training modules amongst others will help to curb the drug menace that cannot be handled by any individual country. He further said that the development of Nigeria and indeed Africa will not come from overseas but must start from Africa itself. "A lot of progress is being made in the negotiation of the draft programme document on "Partnership Against Drugs and Crime in Nigeria" (PAC) and this project is a comprehensive programme of action designed to reduce crime, drug abuse and high risk behaviour in Nigeria by mobilising the entire society, private sector, government and the community at large," he added. He commended the efforts of the Nigerian government and President Obasanjo towards the contribution of United States' $2 million for the execution of the project that will enhance drug control and enforcement. - --- MAP posted-by: Josh