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Oshiomhole, NDLEA Boss Want An End To Cannabis
Cultivation
The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement
Agency(NDLEA), Ahmadu Giade and the Edo State governor,
Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, have advocated the empowerment
of Nigerian youths.
They reasoned that youths empowerment would curb the
high rate of cannabis cultivation in the country,
particularly, in the south-south geo-political areas.
The duo, who spoke at a workshop organised recently by
the anti-narcotics Agency in Benin City, Edo State, said
employment of the youths would make them to quit the
illegal trade.
Oshiomhole, in his keynote address identified lack of
adequate planning for youths in the country as one of
the factors responsible for their involvement in illicit
drug activities.
He said: “In the past, the nation planned for the youths
but in today Nigeria, the situation is not the same. At
the University of Benin, some years back, before
graduation as a 400 level student, there are various
employers of labour as well as various public
authorities, coming to conduct interviews in order to
identify potential employees but the situation today has
changed”.
He, however, advised that the root causes, rather than
consequences of illicit drug cultivation, abuse and
trafficking should be addressed. The Governor observed
that in time past, students had decent accommodation and
even had their beds made for them, adding that such
development inculcated the feelings and mentality of
future managers in them as well as potential members of
the middle class. He lamented the present situation
where about 12 students are locked up in a small 'cell'
called hostel, saying it makes the students to graduate
being hungry and angry against the society.
Giade, in his welcome address said the choice of Edo
State, as the host of the south-south campaign was
because the highest seizures of cannabis in the country
were recorded in the state. He lamented that illicit
drug activities were not only becoming a threat to the
image of the country but danger to the youths who he
said are the future hope of the country.
The NDLEA boss, who was represented by the Director
General of the Agency, Otunba Lanre Ipinmisho said: “The
south-south region is neck-deep in cannabis cultivation
and trafficking. The situation is very bad. In the
course of our discreet covert operations, we have
uncovered very many illicit cannabis plantations in the
south south than in any other region of the country. We
have equally found to our chagrin, that most of the
young men and women being used as labourers on these
clandestine farm locations are school age children”.
The NDLEA boss continued: “In times past, this region
was the envy of all. I recall with nostalgic feelings,
the establishment of Afuze camp, where the best sports
men and women were produced to fly the flag of Nigeria
in both local and international competitions. It is also
worthy of note that a respected Amazon, Professor Grace
Alele Williams, the first female Vice Chancellor ever to
be produced in the country is from this region”.
On the drug barons, Giade said: “We are determined more
than ever before, to smash these cartels. We are not
going to spare anyone hiding under any cover to
perpetrate criminal acts. Any attempt to aid and abet or
obstruct our determination to sanitize this
geo-political area and the country, of illicit drugs
will be vehemently resisted. The Agency will continue to
investigate and trace drug barons to their hideouts. We
shall trace them to their cannabis plantations as we
have always done. We shall also trace them to their
secret warehouses and take the battle to their living
rooms. There will be no hiding place for them” Giade
warned.
The NDLEA boss also said the Agency was open for
dialogue, adding that the workshop was one of the ways
of feeling the pulse of the society concerning their
activities.
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