NDLEA/PUBAF/074/ VOL. V /182 September 6, 2012
PRESS RELEASE
The Honourable Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke on Thursday September 6, 2012 inaugurated the reconstituted Governing Board of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Abuja. Adoke charged the board members to render quality services stressing that they were appointed based on their track record of excellence.
Adoke noted that the inauguration of the board was timely considering the global challenges of drug trafficking. In his words, “your appointment is coming at a time the Agency is grappling with the upsurge in the global production of and trafficking in narcotic drugs. You are therefore expected to provide overall policy direction for the Agency”.
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive and Chairman of the Board, Ahmadu Giade in his welcome address expressed delight over the choice of the members describing it as ‘infusion of fresh ideas’ into the Agency. In his words, “with the inauguration of this Governing Board, the Agency is assured of new ideas, expertise, exposure, experience of trusted and tested leaders. The increasing sophistication of drug barons and couriers demand that countries adopt more pragmatic and ingenious measures to address the problem”.
The NDLEA Chairman promised to work with the board to keep the Agency strong and dynamic.“Let me assure Nigerians that I will work with the board members to ensure that the Agency remains strong and dynamic. As one of the best anti-drug Agencies in the continent, we are prepared to build on past records of excellence and even surpass it through the application of modern and best practices” he assured.
He emphasised that the enormity of the drug problem demands priority attention and that our society can become drug-free if we work together with the zeal and commitment that drug control deserves. According to the NDLEA boss “the twin problem of drug trafficking and abuse complicate public health, socio-economic as well as national security challenges thereby impeding development”.
The new members are AIG Mamman Tsafe, Mrs Hannah Banfa, Dr Bala Yakaya, Pharmacist Bridget Okala and Mrs Agatha Mbamali SAN. Others are Ambassador Kabir Garba, Mrs Mabel Amoni-Okwuoni, Assistant Comptroller General Musa Tahiru and Mr Isaac Yahaya.
Ofoyeju Mitchell
Head, Public Affairs
