The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has named the executive vice chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta as its special ambassador in its renewed war against narcotics and the use of other dangerous substances leading to addiction in the country.
The commander for narcotics at the NDLEA, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Muhammed Ajiya, who announced the ambassadorial appointment by the agency during a courtesy visit to the commission in Abuja last weekend said the objective of the agency’s visit was to partner with the commission to reduce the number of drug addicts in the country through sensitisation programmes.
He said one of the aims of this collaboration is to explore the use of telecom platforms to disseminate information about its activities to sensitise Nigerians. He said this has become strategic, as nearly all Nigerian youths are telecom subscribers who interface with telecom platforms occasionally. Ajiya said NCC comes readily to mind as a good partner to the NDLEA to achieve the latter’s mandate of reducing cases of drug addicts among Nigerian youths.
“The NDLEA has rehabilitation centres across the country. This shows that we do not only apprehend the drug addicts but have rehabilitation centres where we monitor and guide them until they are fully rehabilitated,” he said, as he appreciated the NCC boss for considering and accepting this role in the fight against drug addiction in Nigeria.
A statement by commission’s director of public affairs, Reuben Muoka said NCC’s director, human capital and administration, Usman Malah who received the NDLEA’s delegation on behalf of the EVC, assured the visiting team of the commission’s commitment to supporting the drug agency in eradicating drug abuse and sensitizing citizens, especially the young generation, majority of whom are telecoms consumers, on the effect of drugs.
“Strategic collaboration and partnerships are key pillars of the two regulatory roadmaps of the commission – the Strategic Management Plan (SMP) 2020-2024 and the Strategic Vision Implementation Plan (SVP) 2021-2025 – and we will convey the NDLEA’s message to the commission’s management to see to exploring the areas of collaboration being requested by your agency,” Malah assured.
