Pubdate: Mon, 23 Jun 2003
Source: Vanguard (Nigeria)
Copyright: 2003 Vanguard.
Contact:  http://www.vanguardngr.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2890
Author: Emma Nnadozie

DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY BOSS SEEKS ASSISTANCE ON WAR AGAINST DRUGS

LAGOS - Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Alhaji 
Bello Lafiaji has advocated the involvement of all and sundry in the 
efforts by the Agency to combat the twin-scourge of drug abuse and illicit 
trafficking.

The NDLEA boss who made this call in Lagos while flagging off a week-long 
series of activities to mark the year 2003 United Nation's Day against 
Drug-Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, said that the greatest tragedy is for 
any individual or organization to be indifferent to the ravaging menace of 
drugs.

Lafiaji's call for a concerted action is in line with the theme of this 
years UN Anti-drug day titled "Lets Talk about Drugs". According to the 
Chairman, "talking about drugs is an expression of concern", and that "when 
we are all talking about the negative effects of drugs, it goes to show 
that we are all concerned and that we have all turned against the 
perpetrators of the heinous drug crimes, and before long our talking would 
translate into action". "It can be pretty difficult to make the nation free 
from drugs unless all work places, institutions of learning, worship 
centers, family and traditional institutions begin to speak strongly 
against drugs while ensuring that any of its members involved in drugs is 
exposed", the Chairman stated further.

The Chairman lists some of the dangers which drugs pose to the public to 
include day light armed robberies, cultism, prostitution, spread of AIDS, 
high rate of school drop outs, destitution and joblessness. Others are loss 
of skilled man power, assassination, holding of hostage in oil producing 
areas, economic sabotage and subversion of government policies and 
psychotic cases.

Some of the programmes lined up to mark the UN Anti-drug Day are: Youth 
forum to dissect the relationship between drugs and HIV/AIDS, Jumma'at and 
Church services and an anti-drug enlightenment Seminar for prison officers 
and inmates.

The agency in the course of the week-long programme will also take its 
anti-drug crusade to the Customs and Clearing agents with the aim of 
acquainting them with how drugs are concealed for shipment. Youths, 
students and athletes are expected to benefit from a workshop on the 
nature, effects and consequences of performance enhancing drugs while there 
will be a Drug quiz/debate competition among various schools within the 
Federal Capital Territory and other state capitals of the federation.

The programmes would be rounded off on June 26 with public lectures and 
closing ceremonies in Abuja, which would be attended by top government 
functionaries, the intelligence and diplomatic community.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart