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Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has stressed the need for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA to re-strategize and collaborate more with relevant agencies in the fight against the use of illicit drugs and their peddlers.
According to a press release on Tuesday 26th April 2022 signed by the Director-General (Press Affairs) Gombe Government House, Ismaila Uba Misilli, he said that the Governor Inuwa Yahaya stated this when he received the new zonal Commander of the agency in charge of zone B, comprising Adamawa, Gombe, and the Taraba States.
The Governor who noted the clear correlation between the use of drugs and crimes assured the NDLEA of his administration’s commitment to continually work in partnership with the agency to combat the sale and use of illicit drugs in the State.
He called on security agencies in the State to be wary of flashpoints as the centrality of Gombe State makes it a preferred destination for drug peddling and its abuse.
He said Gombe State sits at the center of the northeast and therefore becomes easy access for all manner of people including the good and the bad ones.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya stressed that more needs to be done by both the NDLEA as well as sister security agencies to rid the society of substance abuse, observing that such can only happen with a stranger synergy.
“The statistics are high and worrisome for Gombe to be the highest in terms of the use of hard drugs. I got wind of this information when I visited NDLEA Chairman, Gen. Buba Marwa”.
” I Am happy that the zonal office is being set up for better coordination which means decisions and actions will be taken to complement the operations of the State office, which will equally mean better performance to combat drug abuse and trafficking in the State”.
The Governor noted that while rehabilitation of drug addicts is fundamental, combating its abuse and peddling is equally important to avoid substance abuse in the first place.
On the issue of funds and logistics, a barracks, and a correctional center, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya explained that despite the paucity of funds amid competing demands, his administration will do all it can to support the NDLEA.
Earlier speaking, the Zonal Commander of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA, Idris Mohammed Bello appreciated Governor Inuwa Yahaya for assisting the State office of the Agency to carry out its constitutional responsibility.
The visiting zonal commander equally noted the spectrums of youths’ empowerment in the State, describing it as a subtle and intelligent method of fighting drug abuse among the younger ones.
He observed that drugs abuse has a direct link with crimes and criminalities and therefore wants the support of the Gombe State Government in the fight against the sale and use of illicit drugs.
The NDLEA commander said the time has come for all Nigerians to get involved in the fight against drugs abuse, saying the agency cannot do it all alone.
He observed that most of the State commands are constrained due to a lack of funds and logistics and therefore appealed to Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya to consider giving some interventions in this regard, particularly at the Drug Rehabilitation Centre of the Agency.
The highlight of the visit was the decoration of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya as the Zonal Patron of War Against Drugs Abuse ( WADA).
