Delta State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Abubakar Wada, Esq, has appealed to the Governor of Delta State, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, to prioritise the completion and commissioning of the state drug addicts counseling and rehabilitation centre situated in Kwale, saying that the agency cannot do much in the area of rehabilitation in the absence of a well-equipped facility.
He noted that Governor Oborevwori is worried about the rising cases of drug abuse and trafficking in Delta, and across the country, judging from the genuine concerns he expressed during the recent visit of NDLEA Director General, Brigadier General Buba Marwa, adding that when completed the Kwale counseling and rehabilitation centre would also provide skills acquisition and vocational training programmes to assist rehabilitated individuals start a new life.
Barrister Wada made the appeal when he received on courtesy visit the Executive Assistant on Communications to Delta State Governor and Chief Executive Officer of Delta State Orientation Bureau (DSOB), Dr Latimore Oghenesivbe, and management staff of the Bureau.
The state commander of NDLEA observed that drug abuse remained a major challenge confronting humanity all over the world, which over the years escalated, especially among youth, while calling on all Deltans to report and give useful information of drug abuse and trafficking to NDLEA authorities at their office in Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha West Local Government Area of the state, assuring that dedicated telephones shall be published in the social media to help drive the process.
He noted that criminal elements heavily rely on multifaceted illicit drugs to carry out their nefarious activities and criminal activities, especially kidnapping and armed robbery, adding that the NDLEA has been very proactive in action against the menace, and shall continue the crackdown on sellers and user
Wada urged the state government to do more in the area of campaigns against drug abuse and Sensitization of citizens through the state orientation Bureau, saying that the rising cases of substance abuse and it’s negative consequences on insecurity, crimes and socioeconomic development cannot be overemphasized, which is why government must invest heavily in curtailing the worsening trend in the state.
“Let me use this opportunity to once again, appeal to His Excellency, the Governor of Delta State, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, to use his good office to facilitate the completion of the Counselling and Rehabilitation Center in Kwale.
“This facility when completed would provide vocational training, skills acquisition and other programmes to foreseeable thousands of beneficiaries. This is to assist addicts start a new life and become bread winners, because our job does not start and end with arrest and prosecution, we also assist rehabilitated drug users who actually need help to reshape their lifestyles and to fulfil destiny.
“We are ready to partner with the State government through the Orientation Bureau, so as to intensify campaigns against drug abuse across the three senstorial districts, especially in Colleges, Universities and other institutions of higher learning,” the NDLEA Commander said.
Earlier, the Executive Assistance to the state governor on communication and Chief Executive Officer of Delta State Orientation Bureau, DSOB, Dr Latimore Oghenesivbe, said the aim of the visit was to familiarize himself with the Commander and his team based on their recent agreement to jointly commence campaign against drug abuse and trafficking, targeting secondary schools and institutions of higher learning across the state.
He disclosed that governor Oborevwori is very passionate about the wellbeing of citizens, especially the youth population who are majorly the victims of drug dealers and retailers, adding that Delta State Orientation Bureau under his watch would do the needful to help curb the menace through result oriented collaborative efforts with NDLEA, MDAs, NGOs and other major stakeholders in the state.
He commended the NDLEA management team for their strategic efforts in the area of arrest and prosecution of drug traffickers, retailers and courier companies, in the ongoing drug war and the tremendous achievements recorded across across the country under the Director General of NDLEA, Brigadier General Buba Marwa, retired.
He explained that substance abuse remained the major propeller of deviant behaviours and criminal activities across the country, while emphasizing the significance of the partnership between the State Orientation Bureau and NDLEA .
The highlight of the visit was the decoration of the head of the State Orientation Bureau and Executive Assistant on Communications to Delta State Governor, Dr Wilfred Latimore Oghenesivbe, JP, as Advocate of War Against Drug Abuse, WADA. The governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori is the Ambassador of WADA.
Deputy Commanders of Delta NDLEA command and management staff of Delta State State Orientation Bureau, were present during Oghenesivbe’s visit to the command.
