The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized over 100 million pills of the pharmaceutical opioid Tramadol in 22 months, according to Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd), the agency’s chairman and chief executive officer. This could have hurt Nigeria’s youth population and national productivity.
Goldennewsng reports that he expressed this on Tuesday twentieth December during the Orders Grants/Honors and embellishment of recently advanced officials at the Organization’s Public Base camp, Abuja, an assertion from Femi Babafemi, the office’s representative, said.
Marwa says, “The Agency arrested 23, 907 drug traffickers, including 29 barons, during the period under review.” Over 5,500 tons, or 5.5 million kilograms, of various illegal drugs were seized, along with over N450 billion in cash.
“During the same time, we destroyed 772 cannabis growers to bring the fight to their doorsteps. 5 cannabis farms covering 5 ha. In these 22 months, we have record convictions of 3, 434 wrongdoers. We have also made significant progress in our efforts to reduce drug demand, with 16, 114 people receiving counseling and rehabilitation.
“Until you view them through the lens of human impact and the good or harm that could have come to society, as well as the impact on public health, security, and law and order if those dangerous drugs had gone to the street, the figures are nothing more than statistics. Take, for instance, the one hundred million tramadol pills seized over the course of the previous 22 months. Because these young people are the engine room of productivity, if those pills had been distributed and ended up in the hands of young people, it would have a devastating impact on their lives, families, productivity, and ultimately the country’s GDP.
“There is no gainsaying that our dedication to duty has been the driving force behind our good performance,” Marwa said, justifying the essence of the ceremony. At the same time, it is also not an exaggeration to say that motivation is the driving force behind our excellent performance. Events over the past 24 months have demonstrated that management’s decision to implement a multifaceted motivational strategy to boost the organization’s work ethic is part of the recipe for the Agency’s revival and spectacular performance. Consequently, management is committed to doing everything in its power to boost workplace productivity. The Commands Awards and Commendations, which are the reason we are here today, are a component of that effort.
We typically determine our performance through monthly, quarterly, or annual evaluations. However, drug law enforcement is typically a continuum, so I frequently evaluate our efforts since January 2021, when we began extensive reforms, reviewed our strategies, and rearranged the existing systems to accommodate innovations. Since then, we have been moving in the right direction. Based on the statistics that are available, what we have done in the 22 months between January 2021 and October 2022 is indeed cause for celebration.
Marwa also took advantage of the opportunity to lead the gathering of officers and their families in singing a birthday song to celebrate President Muhammadu Buhari’s 80th birthday. In addition to praising President Buhari for his unwavering support of the Agency in completing its mandate, Marwa also thanked him for his support.
“I charge you to take this award as a testament to your professional progress Beyond that, that you are here today should also be taken as a challenge to surpass your record every quarter and to be resolute to always be part of this bi-annual ceremony,” he instructed the officers who received commendation awards and were promoted to higher ranks to recommit themselves. The decoration of a few recently promoted officers is the subject of the second part of this ceremony. 3, 506 officers were promoted last year. There have been 1,018 officer promotions this year, with two DCGN, 17 ACGN, 29 CN, 78 DCN, and 111 ACN among them. 63 CSN, 106 SN, 129 DSN, 25 ASN 1, 400 ASN II, 9 CNA, 44 SNA, 3 NA, and 2 NASI are also included in the group.
“Promotion is a reward for business acumen, tenacity, and dedication. It is awarded based on merit rather than gratuity, and at times it is contingent on vacancies. That indicates that not everyone who deserves a promotion receives one. There is a limited opportunity for upward mobility from certain ranks. This brings me to a crucial point: To those whose expectations were not met in the recently concluded promotion and harmonisation exercise, I say that management is working to address some complaints and that the process is still ongoing. As soon as there are openings at a higher level, we will continue to consider everyone involved.”
He urged the officers to stay on their toes and refrain from doing anything that might jeopardize the Agency’s collective goal of eradicating drug abuse and trafficking in the country. I’m committed to give credit for the steady employment you have done for the current year. The performance this year demonstrates that the results we achieved last year were not accidental. urged us to keep up the good work, but keep in mind that we are traveling a long distance, have a long way to go, and there is room for improvement.
Importantly, do not misappropriate the public’s faith in us. I want to reassure you that management is concerned about your well-being, professionalism, and entitlement to work. President Muhammadu Buhari has done this as far as government assistance bundles with his endorsement of various impetuses. Additionally, the barrack project is in full swing. These are signs that NDLEA officers have a bright future. As a result, we cannot afford to have officers who engage in deceitful behavior. We now have a good welfare package that should take care of you and your family whether you are working or retiring, so you don’t need to worry about anything, he said.
