The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has named the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Professor Umar Danbatta, as its Special Ambassador in its renewed efforts to combat narcotics and drug addiction in the country. The NDLEA announced the appointment during a courtesy visit to the NCC in Abuja last weekend.
The NDLEA is seeking to partner with the NCC to reduce the number of drug addicts in Nigeria through awareness and sensitization programs. The agency believes that by using telecom platforms to disseminate information about its activities, it can reach a wide audience, particularly among young Nigerians who are often telecom subscribers. The NCC is well-positioned to help the NDLEA achieve this goal, according to the NDLEA’s Commander for Narcotics in the Federal Capital Territory, Muhammed Ajiya.
“The NDLEA has rehabilitation centers across the country,” Ajiya said. “This shows that we do not only apprehend drug addicts, but we also have rehabilitation centers where we monitor and guide them until they are fully rehabilitated.” Ajiya expressed his appreciation that Professor Danbatta had accepted the role of Special Ambassador in the fight against drug addiction in Nigeria.
The NCC’s Director of Human Capital and Administration, Usman Malah, assured the NDLEA delegation of the Commission’s commitment to supporting the drug agency in its efforts to eradicate drug abuse and sensitize citizens, particularly young people, about the effects of drugs. Malah said that collaboration and partnership are key pillars of the NCC’s strategic plans, and that the agency would consider how it could work with the NDLEA to achieve its goals.
