The Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), retired Colone Muhammad Abdallah has confirmed that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved recruitment of 5,000 personnel for the agency to boost its manpower.
Abdallah, who spoke today, July 19 at the Public Destruction of Drug Exhibits by Taraba Command of NDLEA in Jalingo, said that the gesture would go a long way in improving operations of the agency on campaign against drug addiction in Nigeria.
He said that increased consumption of illicit drugs among the youths in Taraba was worrisome, appealing to families to brace up to their responsibilities.
According to Abdallah, effective drug prevention must involve positive engagement of children, youths and adults with their families, schools, workplace and community.
He commended Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba for his support to the agency in addressing drug problems in the state even as he also commended Mrs. Anna Darius, wife of the governor, for giving great impetus to the war against drug abuse in the state.
The chairman said that the provision of Hope Afresh Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), managed by the wife of the governor for sensitization against drug abuse is a great boost to anti-drug abuse campaign.
Acting Commander of NDLEA in the state, Peter Odaudu, had said that the agency had assembled seven tonnes (6,963.80 kilogrammes) of deadly weeds and psychotropic substances for destruction.
Odaudu said that the exhibits were seized between January, 2003 and December, 2018.
He listed some of the illicit drugs assembled for destruction as Cannabis Sativa, Diazepam, Rophynol, Cough syrups with codeine and Tramadol.
According to him, a court order for their destruction has been duly obtained, even as he commended other security agencies in the state for their cooperation in the success recorded by the NDLEA.
