The Lekki Deep Seaport Command of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has raised awareness against drug abuse and peddling through a carnival-like procession that attracted participation of government and private sector stakeholders.
Jonah Achema, Commander of Narcotics and Area Commander NDLEA Lekki Port Special Command in his remarks to welcome stakeholders to the Walk noted that the exercise was not a ceremony but an operational signal to perpetrators of drug activities that the drug war is now a shared responsibility and no longer an NDLEA affair alone as demonstrated by the massive turnout of stakeholders within the Port
He described the turnout as a clear indication that the all hands are now on deck to cascade the awareness as advocated by the Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa (Rtd.)
Achema reaffirmed the commitment of the Command to ensure that drug merchants do not violate the innocence of Lekki Port and the community while vowing to make the area a no go zone for illicit drug trade and activities
The Commander added that the Command will ensures diligent examination of both export and import consignments as a check against any attempt to use the nascent port for drug shipment. He urged all the stakeholders to sustain and further strengthen the present collaborative efforts.
Customs Area Comptroller, Lekki Free Zones, Dr. Lanre Olumoh who flagged off the Walk said the grave consequences of drug abuse has made it compelling for all stakeholders to collaborate with NDLEA to make sure that the situation is addressed conclusively. He said the concept of a walk in the corridor is a novelty and that his command will join hands with NDLEA to make it frequent, more so for the health benefits.
Comptroller Olumoh reiterated the commitment of the Customs Comptroller-General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi to support NDLEA across commands, noting that the commitment is already yielding fruits with the massive drug seizures at the Ports across the country.
The occasion was the Walk against Drugs convened by National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA Lekki Deep Sea Port Special Area Command to commemorate 2024 International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking.
The walk which started at 7am featured a coalition of stakeholders that converged at the gate of Lekki Port from where the Walk began and terminated several kilometers along the corridor.
Other heads of Services that participated in the Walk along with their teams included Department of State Services, Nigeria Agency for Maritime Safety, NIMASA, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Lekki Port, Nigeria Police Force, NPF, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Standard Organization of Nigeria, SON and Nigeria Association of Patent Medicine Dealers, NAPMED.
Participants were dressed in T-shirts bearing messages urging the populace to embrace drug prevention in line with the age-long notion that prevention is better than cure. Information, Education and Communication materials on factual dangers of drugs were distributed to motorists, by-standers and households in the course of the walk. This included posters, stickers and leaflets.
Earlier, the Command had attended Juma’at and Church Services during which sermons were delivered on drug use consequences on society.
