Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, CFR, Oba of Benin, has tasked the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to undertake a study into the use of active ingredients in cannabis derived from the hemp plant that could lead to breakthrough in curing diseases and for other medical uses.
Oba Ewuare II made the suggestion when men of the anti-narcotic agency led by its State Commander, Mr. Alumona Callys Obioma, paid a courtesy visit to his palace in Benin City.
The first-class traditional ruler challenged the NDLEA and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), under the Ministry of Health, to look beyond illicit drug seizures in fighting drug crimes, currently taking toll in Nigeria and beyond, by focusing on winning proposals/research and development like its counterparts in other climes, including Israel and the United States of America.
Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Chief Press Secretary to the Oba of Benin, in a press statement released yesterday, said Oba Ewuare II, the NDLEA Royal Ambassador, also drew the NDLEA’s attention to unauthorized sales of prohibited drugs in some medicine stores, pharmaceutical companies and other drug cartels in Nigeria.
Recalling how he brought his innovation to bear in laundering Nigeria’s image in Rome while serving as Nigeria’s Ambassador, and dismantled prostitution and the menace of human trafficking, Oba Ewuare II promised to leverage his diplomatic experience in leading advocacy against drug crimes, and pledged the support of traditional institution for NDLEA.
Oba Ewuare II said, “In Israel, they study the use of cannabis. They have an industry for producing cannabis for medical use. I do not know if they have developed that in Nigeria’s health sector.
“You may wish to look into that proposal whereby we can have a medical use. It can cure a whole lot of things, according to Israelis”, he said.
Earlier in his address, the State Commander of NDLEA, Mr. Alumona Callys Obioma, paid tribute to the Oba of Benin for timely intervention on critical issues and solicited for prayers to protect the agency’s personnel from harm’s way and make them achieve their mandate in Nigeria.
Obioma lamented deplorable road network and logistics challenges that are frustrating NDLEA operatives in fighting drug crimes in addition to the involvement of both youths and aging population in drug crimes that fuel social vices, including drug addiction, internet fraud, cultism, violent crimes and ritual murder.
“We cannot fold our arms. We must bring them back. Our parents taught us well. But, these ones are trying to show us that they were not taught like our parents.
“So, it is our duty collectively your Royal Majesty and Chiefs present here to talk to our people. Reach out to them on the danger of drug crime.
“Between March and now, we have about five drug users that went through our rehabilitation home. My problem is, most of the time we comb the bushes, our men will move around in the night. Now, when you reach a certain place, the cars cannot move. They (NDLEA operatives) have to trek for two hours to destroy illicit drug farms.
“The major problem we have is mobility because the terrain is difficult to access. And we don’t have good vehicles to move around”, Obioma said.
