CELEBRATING NIGERIA ANTI DRUG VICTORY

The recent arrest of a 45 year old man, Solomon Osula, for drug trafficking in October at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja and that of a 22-year old nurse, Emeka Ngozi, the same month at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos has reinforced the commendable efforts of Nigeria through the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the war against Cocaine and other illicit drugs.
Apart from the airports arrests, there had been report of arrests form other part of the country the recent been that of an 80 year-old-man, Malam Umar Abdullahi arrested in Kano for allegedly being in possession of seven bags of cannabis.
The success story was also corroborated earlier in the year by a report from the United Nation Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) world report for 2007 which describes Nigerian’s war on drugs as one of the most successful in the world.
According to the report, Nigeria through the NDLEA eradicated 255ha of cannabis in 2004 while the figure increased to 14,316ha in 2005. Also noteworthy is the increase in the number of arrest being made in connection with the illegal trade. The drug agency in 2003 made a total arrest of 2,490 persons, it rose to 3,700 in 2004. The figure for 2005 was put at 3,473 while it also increased to 6,323 in 2006. Arrest made in the first and second quarter of 2007 is nearing 6,000.
Looking at all these analyses and statistics on the performance of NDLEA in the eradication of this illicit trade one need to applaud the agency for a job well done. Their effort is worth all the commendations but a lot of works still need to be done and the support for all Nigerians is needed to put a stop to this menace.
Despite this great feat achieved by Nigeria, the practice of this illicit trade is still very rampart among many Nigerians who seems to be undaunted despite all the arrest that has been made. The importation and consumption of Cocaine and other dangerous drugs are still on the high side. Illicit drug trade is one of the most lucrative business in the world accounting for hundred of millions of dollars a year.
Nigeria is till among the major countries in Africa were marijuana is grown and also a major cocaine trafficking route to Europe via Africa as most of the arrest made so far has showed. Other countries known for this trade in Africa include South Africa, Malawi, Zambia, Swaziland, Ghana, Benin, Togo, DR Congo, Tanzania, and Morocco.
In summary since 2003, a total of 9,866.414kh of various types for illicit drug with cannabis making up over 96 per cent while over 1,031 persons has been arrested.
In furtherance of this great stride, the support of all Nigerians is needed form the Government, private individuals and organisation are needed in ensuring a good image for Nigeria. The judiciary also needed to liaise with the agency in order to ensure the speedy hearing and dispatchment of all drug related cases brought before it by NDLEA. Whoever is caught regardless of status should be punished accordingly. So far the judiciary has not performed badly in this regard but they should put in more effort.
The task to stamp out illicit drug trade from our society is a collective one, NDLEA cannot do it alone we must put out heads together and stamp out drug trafficking.