NDLEA Launch WADA At Apapa Port

Bashir Inducts Oba, Customs, Army, Naval bosses ‘Ambassadors’

BY EGUONO ODJEGBA

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Apapa Port Special Area Command, yesterday replicated the launch of the Agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA), done by President Muhammadu Buhari at Abuja, June this year.

The Command Assistant Comptroller General Narcotics, Samuel Gadzama Bashir, who carried out the launch during the decoration of 54 officers of the command newly promoted at the NPA Multipurpose Centre Apapa Ports Complex Lagos, charged the officers to redouble their efforts in the fight against drug trafficking and abuse.

The Apapa Port narcotic chief also inducted and decorated personnel sister security agencies operating at the port and individuals as WADA Ambassador , including the Apapa Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Ibrahim Malanta Yusuf,  Commander of the  Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport, Brigadier General W.L Nzidee, the Ojora of Ijora and Port Manager, Lagos Port Complex, Mrs Fumilayo Olotu.

He stated that WADA was launched in the realization that the war against drugs cannot be completely won by guns or enforcement alone, noting it is a war of the heart and attitudinal change by the generality of Nigerians.

Bashir further explained that those picked as WADA Ambassadors are expected to show direction in the collective fight towards eradicating drug vices and abuses.

He said, “It is not by accident that we have chosen today to also launch the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA). It is to send the appropriate signal to all the actors in the illicit drug chain within the port and its environs that today’s NDLEA is not going to spare any act in favour of drug activities.

“We have been adequately motivated and given the mandate to crush any attempt to try our will for a drug-free Nigeria. We as light bearers have to ensure that we launch to rid our respective jurisdictions of the drug menace.”

While congratulating the newly promoted officers, he urged them to see their new ransk as a further call to higher responsibilities, in the fight against drug smuggling and drug abuse. He also explained that the initiative was first launched by the Agency’s Commandant General, Brigadier Buba Mohammed marwa (retired), and is a call to all well meaning stakeholders to join NDLEA in sensitizing the general populace of the dangers of indulging in illicit drug use and trafficking.

“We are not unmindful of the burgeoning drug activity within the Apapa metropolis which forms the Apapa Port community and we are going to fight this to the finish, beginning today. This is an operational promise and it must be executed.

“We must be prepared to sustain this new work spirit engendered by the promotion. You have to be reminded of the popular saying that to whom much is given much is expected and that the reward for hard work is more work.

“Let us bear in mind that we have been elevated not because we have so distinguished ourselves but we have been elevated to distinguish ourselves,” he said.

The NDLEA area boss thabked the Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigeria Customs Service, the Navy, Army and other sister agencies for their cooperation and synergy, stating that the agency would continue to leverage on their support to change the narrative in drug smuggling and abuse.

Apapa Customs boss, Malanta Yusuf in his goodwill message charged the newly decorated officers to have a change of attitude in their work culture and to see their new ranks as a call for greater commitment to duty.

He said, “You are now wearing a new look and once you are wearing a new look, it means you have to wear a new change of behavior and attitude, in the way you relate and conduct yourselves even outside the command.”

Yusuf said the importance for shared intelligence and synergy among sister agencies through deployment of technology cannot be overemphasized in the fight against drug smuggling and abuse. He noted that much of the command’s increased tempo in seizures is also a function of synergy.

“With synergy we have made Apapa command to be a no- go area for perpetrators of illegal trade and this is clearly indicated in our seizures.”

While thanking the NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier Marwa, Comptroller Yusuf said that the promotion will engender a new spirit of commitment amongst the work force.

“I need to rightly express the profound appreciation of the Officers and Men of this Command to Brig. General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.) for offering us a new direction by placing high premium on the welfare and motivation of the staff of the Agency. He has seen motivation is key to productivity and no matter the level of technology that is made available a poorly motivated staff can never deliver optimally.

The Western Naval Commander, and his Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport counterpart, Brigadier General WL Nzidee, urged the newly promoted narcotic officers to put in more efforts to justify the confidence repose in them.

Out of a total of 3,506 officers promoted by NDLEA, the Apapa Special Command which has remained the arrow head of the offensives against drug trafficking got 54 slots.