…Commends Oborevwori for assisting Agency to fight drug abuse
Delta State Government, through its State Orientation and Communications Bureau, is partnering with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to mount “Drug Free Delta” campaign in selected Secondary Schools across the three senatorial districts.
NDLEA State Commander, Abubakar Wada Esq, and senior officers of the command on Tuesday held a strategic meeting with DSCOB team led by the Bureau’s Director General, Dr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe Esq, to put finishing touches to the “Drug Free Delta” State wide campaign.
Wada said the joint meeting was necessary to enable both government agencies to take a second and final look at the campaign strategies, discuss details of the pre-campaign joint press conference scheduled to hold on Tuesday January 28, at the State Bureau of Communications Conference Hall, Summit Road Asaba, the state capital.
The State NDLEA Commander disclosed that the meeting also scrutinized the programme of event for the “Drug Free Delta” campaign flag off slated for 3rd February 2025, at the Unity Hall, Government House Asaba, the state capital, adding that the awareness campaign will cover all three senatorial districts in Delta State: Delta Central, Delta North, and Delta South.
In the same vein, the Director General, Delta State Bureau for Communications and Orientation, Dr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe said that the Bureau and the State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, has finalised plans to jointing mount the “Drug Free Delta” sensitization campaigns in selected Secondary Schools across the state.
He disclosed that the state governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori is worried by reports of the rising wave of drug abuse across the country, and in some parts of the state, hence the need to reverse the trend to prevent youths from being caught in the negative web of drug addiction.
“Barr Abubakar Wada, the State NDLEA Commander and his team are on the same page with us at the State Bureau for Communications and Orientation. It’s a joint effort sponsored by Delta State Government.
“Governor Sheriff Oborevwori is poised to sustain and upscale peace building and security in the State, and one of the potent strategies is to doggedly fight drug abuse through awareness campaigns on the grave dangers and negative consequences of hard drugs, narcotics and drug abuse generally” Oghenesivbe said.
Speaking further, the Delta State Commander of NDLEA, Abubakar Wada Esq, disclosed that Nigeria is fast becoming one of the hard drugs consuming countries, which is why multifaceted collaborative efforts are needed to fight the rising wave of drug abuse, drug trafficking and retailing through street hawking.
He commended the genuine efforts of the state governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, by assisting security agencies in the state with logistics and operational vehicles, saying that the Hilux Vehicles donated to the State Command of NDLEA had enabled the agency to consistently track down and apprehended intra and inter-state drug traffickers, resulting in the seizure of huge quantities of hard drugs in transit enroute some parts of Delta State.
Wada assured that the agency’s partnership with the State Government through the Bureau for Communications and Orientation under the leadership of Dr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, would further upscale public awareness about the negative effects and dangers associated with drug abuse and use of multifaceted hard drugs among youths, saying that the importance of mounting the ‘Drug Free Delta” campaign in Secondary Schools cannot be overemphasized.
“The leadership of NDLEA headed by our amiable Director General, Brigadier General Buba Marwa, Rtd, has been and shall continue to apprehend and prosecute drug traffickers. There is no hiding place for hard drug peddlers. They are the major problems. The consumers, especially the youths are victims.
“In Delta State alone, the State Command of NDLEA is prosecuting over 300 offenders in Courts of competent jurisdictions. Our detention facilities are overwhelmed, and our Exhibit warehouse need to be decongested and expanded.
“We are also focusing on counselling and rehabilitation of drug addicts. We genuinely appreciate governor Oborevwori’s multifaceted support, but more needs to be done. There is the need to complete the Kwale and Agbor rehabilitation centers to upscale our achievements in that aspect.
“We shall give more details at the pre-campaign press conference on 28th January, and during the campaign flag off at Unity Hall, Government House Asaba on February 3, 2025.
“During the campaigns, NDLEA plans to establish War Against Drug Abuse, WADA CLUBS towards promoting a culture of drug-free living among students in Secondary Schools across the three Senatorial Districts; Delta North, Delta South and Delta Central.
“The Drug Free Delta campaign spearheaded by the Delta State Bureau for Communications and Orientation is a significant step towards addressing the issue of drug abuse in the state.
“By working together, Delta State Government and the NDLEA aim to create a safer, healthier environment for all students and residents in Delta State,” Wada assured.
