President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has implored the heads of national anti-drug agencies in Africa to renew the fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in their respective countries.
Specifically, the Nigerian leader vehemently warned that the African continent would remain in chains until it is freed from the shackles of the criminal enterprises of drug barons and illicit drug syndicates.
President Tinubu sounded the warning in Abuja on Tuesday when he declared open the 31st meeting of the Heads of National Anti-Drug Agencies in Africa (HONLAF) at the Continental Hotel, Abuja.
President Bola Tinubu
“If we do not dismantle the criminal enterprises that threaten our future and build a better tomorrow for all Africans, we will remain chained in a sick and amoral world, as will our children and their children,” he told the anti-narcotics organization. agency heads.
In his keynote address titled “Overcoming the Drug Menace,” the President, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the event, observed that Africa was “at the mercy of a threat that knows neither race nor geography nor gender nor conditions.” social”. class”.
In this regard, he urged the heads of anti-drug agencies to consider the Abuja conference as a ray of hope and a catalyst for positive change across the continent.
President Tinubu thanked them for their sacrifices in ensuring a world free of illicit drugs.
He said: “This threat has crossed borders and destroyed societies and dreams. Without the moral commitment of the men and women present in this room, this threat would have erased cities, countries and even civilizations. Therefore, I must commend him for his sacrifices in trying to keep our world drug-free, sane and safe.
At this conference, the focus is on protecting our communities from the damaging effects of drugs, which can only be achieved through effective law enforcement across borders.
We express our gratitude to HONLAF and its partners, particularly the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, for creating this platform, which provides intelligence and drug law enforcement officials with an invaluable opportunity to share knowledge and collaborate.
This will help us stay ahead of the transnational criminal networks that are responsible for drug trafficking.
Tinubu pointed out that criminal organizations have been attempting to breach security measures in African countries over the past two decades to corrupt the minds of their citizens.
However, he acknowledged the hard work of anti-narcotics agencies, who have been a significant obstacle for these organizations. The President, who also chairs the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), emphasized that we should never underestimate the despair of criminal organizations, even though drug law enforcement organizations are a threat to their criminal empires.
“Without you as guardians of healthy nations, humanity as we know it would have been perverted for a long time. So, on behalf of the world, I say: thank you, thank you to all of you who have kept us from being contaminated and destroyed.
“For us, the commitment to the fight against drug trafficking and substance abuse is not just a matter of policy; It is a moral imperative. We recognize that a population at war on drugs is not a dividend but a liability. “We believe that the future of our youth, the strength of our institutions, and the well-being of our communities depend on our ability to eradicate this threat.”
President Tinubu further highlighted the need for anti-narcotics agencies to consolidate established contacts, strengthen existing operational partnerships and cooperation between them at the sub-regional and regional levels.
This, he said, would hinder illicit drug trafficking and the movement of drug syndicates on the African continent.
He continued: “Therefore, I must ask you to view this meeting as an avenue for the exchange of novel ideas and the development of practical strategies. We must consolidate established contacts, operational partnerships and cooperation to ensure that the results of this four-day deliberation promote public safety and the emergence of drug-free African communities.
“Our strength has always been our proactive actions to prevent any individual or group from turning our countries into a drug trafficking minefield. Therefore, we must prioritize prevention, education and rehabilitation to empower our youth with knowledge and opportunities. We must steer them away from the treacherous path of drug abuse and trafficking and protect our economy from the consequences of their actions.
“This administration will continue to provide the necessary support, motivation and tools for the NDLEA to fulfill its mandate. We understand the connection between the success of the fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking and the achievement of a series of objectives of our socio-economic and security agenda.
NDLEA officials
“Ladies and gentlemen, I know you do not need to be reminded of the sacred task before us. I know that you are fully aware of the number of people and dreams that depend on your decisions and actions to reach their destination. But, most importantly, I know you are up to the task.”
On the choice of Nigeria for the conference, President Tinubu stated that it is a profound recognition of the campaign and fight against illicit drugs in the country by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
“We are organizing the 31st HONLAF meeting here to assure you of our promise to participate in building a world that is not threatened by the infiltration of illicit drugs,” he added.
Declaring the meeting open, President Tinubu said: “While I encourage you to take time out of your busy program schedule to enjoy the beauty and hospitality of Abuja, I thank you for your dedication and determination in this noble cause and hope “Looking forward to the fruitful discussions and partnerships that will emerge from this meeting.”
Welcoming guests earlier, the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Buba Marwa, a retired Brigadier General, reiterated the commitment of stakeholders to address the global drug problem, noting that Nigeria will continue to defend the objectives of multilateral organizations dedicated to the fight against drug trafficking and related crimes.
He stressed the need for global partnerships to address drug trafficking and other vices, noting that the global drug problem cannot be effectively addressed by individual entities.
In the opening session of the meeting, speakers included the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Ghada Fathi Waly; UNODC Country Representative, Oliver Stolpe; the Commander of the National Institute for Security Studies, Ayodele Adeleke, and the Representative of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, among others.