The Apapa Strategic Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ,(NDLEA) has announced the set of activities organised by the Command to commemorate this year’s International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
During a press briefing at the Command Headquarters, on June 23rd , 2025, the Strategic Commander of the Command, Buba Obadiah Wakawa told journalists that June 26 of every year has been designated by United Nations as a day to create awareness on the dangers of Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking and adopt localised actions by member countries aimed to sensitize their immediate communities in order to achieve a World free of drug use and trafficking.
According to Wakawa, the theme for this year’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is, ” The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention, Break the Cycle.”He said the theme for the year is apt and consistent with the Agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA), a novel idea and brain child of the Chairman /Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Brig. Gen. Buba Mohammed Marwa.
He also stated that the theme urges the public to strengthen actions and cooperation in curtailing the availability, accessibility, and affordability of drugs.
The Strategic Commander explained that the 2018 UN Drugs Survey shows that an estimated 14.3 million Nigerians between the ages of 15-64 years had used drugs in the preceding years and there is no clearer evidence of the drug epidemic than this.
According to him, the activities for the commemoration within the Port and the host communities of Apapa in alignment with the initiative of the National Headquarters of the Agency includes: Juma’at Prayer at ENL and CPC Mosque which took place on Friday 20th June, 2025, Church Commemorative Service on Sunday 22nd June, 2025 at the ECWA church, Marine Beach, Press Briefing on Monday 23rd June, 2025, Road Walk Awareness Campaign against Drug Abuse on Tuesday 24th June, 2025, Debate on Drug Abuse among 12 selected secondary schools in Apapa Local Government and the climax of the Commemoration which will be a Grand Finale and Town Hall engagement on Thursday 26th June, 2025 at Rockview Hotel, Apapa.
Buba Wakawa said the objective of this engagement is to bring together broad spectrum of the society, the schools and students, regulatory government and sister security agencies, terminal operators and stakeholders, the Press and Media in unionism of one voice against Drug Abuse and the Illicit Trafficking.
He appreciated sister agencies that work hand in hand with the Command to fight drug trafficking and abuse.
“We must guaranty sound health and security in our communities as Drugs have been found to aggregate conflicts, Crime and new waves of insecurity e.g Kidnapping, Banditry and Terrorism.
“Apapa Strategic Command has undertaken the initiative to embark on some activities that will increase awareness and knowledge of the potential health, social and legal consequences of Illicit drugs use and trafficking.
“Permit me to extend my appreciation to all our stakeholders, especially our foreign counterparts, the regulatory government and sister security agencies; Nigeria Port Authority (NPA), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Directorate of State Security Service (DSS), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), NAFDAC, Nigeria Port Heath Services, Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service, and other Maritime Union at the Port for the synergy and cooperation that has brought about various Drug seizures thereby cutting the supply chain of the merchants of death.”, he said.
