The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders NAGAFF has felicitated with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA on the occasion of its 30th anniversary, saying the anti-drug agency has recorded milestone achievements, which made it attain the best in Africa and one of the best in the world.

The NDLEA, a Federal Government agency in Nigeria charged with eliminating the growing, processing, manufacturing, selling, exporting, and trafficking of hard drugs, was established following the promulgation of Decree 48 of 1989 (now Act of Parliament).

In a letter dated June 11, 2020 signed by the association’s Secretary General, Dipo Olayoku, NAGAFF noted that the NDLEA has emerged the most proactive and leading Drug Law Enforcement Agency on the African continent and one of the best in the world through the provision of effective and efficient services to Nigerians by cutting off the supply of illicit drugs, reducing the demand for illicit drugs and other substances of abuse, tracing and recovering drug -related proceeds and contributing to the creation and maintenance of an enviable image for the nation throughout the world.

According to him, in line with its mission statement, the agency has manifested magnificent capability and capacity to deal deadly blows on the menace of drug abuse and its attendant fallout in the Nigerian society.

The letter reads in part: “On behalf of the founder, Dr. B. O. Aniebonam, the BOT, and the entire membership of NAGAFF, it gives me great pleasure and profound sense of joy to felicitate with the NDLEA on the occasion of its 30th anniversary. Thirty (30) years in the life of an organisation, upon which the country pins the hope of an illicit drug-free society, is no mean feat. Sociologists have established that drug abuse contributes significantly to rise in crime rate in every society.

“At this juncture, some of the achievements recorded by the NDLEA will suffice.  Prior to the establishment of the agency, drug offenders go about their illicit activities with confidence, and without fear of apprehension. Drug trafficking and drug abuses were rampant all over the Nigerian landscape.

“As a matter of fact, Nigeria and Nigerians gained notoriety across the world, over drug trafficking and drug related offences. Even at a point, our dear country became a transit hub in the ring of international drug cartel. That was the scenario before the coming of NDLEA. Now the story has changed. Drug offenders now hide to perpetrate their nefarious activities. The long arm of the NDLEA is now fishing out drug offenders anywhere in the country. With the long list of arrests and seizures, there seems to be no hiding place for drug offenders anywhere in the country anymore. 

“More importantly, Nigeria has exited the “world black book of drug trafficking nations”.  Our country is no more playing the role of “transit port for drugs”.Drug offence is webbed in international ring. The NDLEA in the past 30 years has been able to build a bridge of collaborations with countries of the world and this has led to exchange of intelligence, resulting in the smashing of cartels and rings, with the resultant reduction in the trafficking of illicit drugs into, within and out of Nigeria. 

“This explains the numerous awards, both local and international which are marks of great accomplishments for NDLEA. Looking back 30 years, we believe the agency has every reason to roll out the drums to celebrate 30 years of excellent service to a people who suffered both local and international trauma over the menace of drug offense. No wonder, Nigerians are full of gratitude to the NDLEA for what it has done for them and the country”.

He however assured that as major stakeholders in the Nigerian project, those of them at NAGAFF are proud to be responsible partners to NDLEA over its achievements, and pledge their continued support as it marches on in the service to the fatherland.

“We wish to acknowledge the high level of industrial harmony between NAGAFF and the NDLEA officials deployed at the seaports and border locations of Nigeria where most of our members operate. We also wish to express our gratitude to the current Director, NDLEA Seaports Operations, Mrs. Omolade Faboyede, who visited our headquarters to drive home the mission and vision of the NDLEA to freight practitioners. Her visit widened our scope with regards to psychotropic substances other than cocaine/heroine, hitherto known to the public. It is our hope that the new NDLEA, after 30 years, shall continue to engage the Organised Private Sector POS and other responsible partners with a view to achieving its core mandate, to the glory of God and mankind”, NAGAFF also said.