Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig Gen Mohammed Buba Marwa (Rtd) has disclosed that the Agency seized over 5,5million kilograms of assorted illicit drugs as well as cash worth over N450billion in the year 2022.
He made the disclosure just as he noted that within the period, the Agency arrested 23, 907 drug traffickers including 29 barons.
Marwa who made this known at the End of Year/Command Awards and Decoration of Promoted Officers ceremony on Tuesday in Abuja, also noted that in the last 22 months, the agency has record convictions of 3, 434 offenders.
“In the same period, we have taken the fight to the doorsteps of cannabis growers by destroying 772. 5 hectares of cannabis farms.
Expatiating on the importance of the seizures, Marwa said, “The figures are mere statistics until you view them through the lens of human impact and the good or harm that could have come to society, the impact on public health, security as well as law and order if those dangerous drugs had gone to the street.
“Take, for instance, the one hundred million pills of tramadol seized in the past 22 months. If those pills had gone into circulation and ended up in the hands of young people, it would take a heavy toll on lives, families, productivity and, ultimately, the GDP of the country because it will affect these young people who are the engine room of productivity.
“This is the overview of what we have done so far, to justify the awards and commendations that will be accorded some individual officers and commands today.
Disclosing that the ceremonies are “a celebration of excellence”, Marwa said, ” To be promoted implies you have excelled; the awards and commendations, in itself, is an appreciation of excellence, and the get-together is partly motivated by the facts of an excellent year for the Agency, otherwise, we wouldn’t gather here in a jolly mood if we have nothing to show for the year.
“Therefore, to the NDLEA workforce, as represented by officers, men and women gathered here, from directors to unit heads to every staff member, I say congratulations for another year of record achievements and milestones.
“There is no gainsaying that our dedication to duty has been the driving force behind our good performance; at the same time, it is also not an exaggeration to say that our good performance is catalysed by motivation.
“As proven right by events in the past 24 months, management’s decision to deploy a multipronged motivational mechanism to improve the organisation’s work ethic is part of the recipe for the resurgence of the Agency and the resultant spectacular performance.
“On that score, management is committed to doing everything possible to improve productivity on the job.
Describing drug law enforcement as generally a continuum, Marwa said, “There has not been any command that failed to live up to expectation; but, a few deserve the proverbial pat on the back for going the extra mile.
“Some commands and officers had been here in the past; some are here for the first or repeated time; others will be here for the same honour in the future as NDLEA will continue to recognise those who play pivotal roles in the Agency’s giant strides.
“Therefore, I charge you to take this award as a testament to your professional progress.
“The second leg of this ceremony pertains to the decoration of some officers that were recently promoted. Last year, 3, 506 officers were promoted.
“This year, a total of 1,018 officers have been promoted to new ranks including two DCGN, 17 ACGN, 29 CN, 78 DCN and 111 ACN. Others are 63 CSN, 106 SN, 129 DSN, 25 ASN I, 400 ASN II, 9 CNA, 44 SNA, 3 NA and 2 NAS I.
Promotion is a reward for industry, diligence and dedication.
“It is earned on merit, not given as gratis, and at times, it is subject to vacancy. What that means is that it is not everybody that deserves a promotion that gets it.
“That brings me to this important point: to those whose expectations were not met in the just concluded promotion and harmonisation exercise, I am saying that the process is still ongoing as management is working to address some complaints.
“We will continue to put everyone concerned into consideration as soon as there are openings at the higher level.
On welfare, the NDLEA boss said, “I want to assure you that management is taking care of your welfare, professionalism and work entitlement.
President Muhammadu Buhari has done a lot in terms of welfare packages with his approval of several incentives.
“The barrack project is also in full swing. These are indications that the future is bright for NDLEA officers. Therefore, we cannot afford to have officers that cross the lines in terms of temptations.
“You have got nothing to fear whether now or in retirement because we now have a good welfare package that should take care of you and your family on the job or in retirement.
“The Agency is also exploring opportunities for training at home and abroad to further improve your professionalism and place you at par with the best of narcotic officers in the world.”