NDLEA Budget is for Nigeria’s Security- Rep Ottah Agbo
… Attributes Reduction in Banditry/Terrorism to Agency’s Success
Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Narcotic Drugs, Dr. Francis Ottah Agbo, has described the 2023 budget proposal of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) as a budget for the security and we’ll being of Nigerians.
Dr. Ottah Agbo who made the comment while interacting with top officials of the NDLEA led by its chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig-General Mohammed Buba Marwa (Retd) over the agency’s estimated budget for 2023 said this is because the work of the agency is crucial in stamping out all the crimes bedeviling the country.
The Feed Back Lawmaker who doubles as the Spokesman of the House Minority Caucus attributed the current reduction in banditry and terrorism across the country to the success recorded by the NDLEA in bursting drug syndicates and arrests of drug Lords which he said led to a drastic reduction in supply of hard drugs to criminal elements.
The committee chairman said the significance of the large seizures of drugs and arrest of drug kingpins by the NDLEA in recent times cannot be underestimated as all forms of crimes ranging from kidnappings to banditry to terrorism have their roots in the access to banned substances and controlled drugs.
“The NDLEA needs to be supported especially in its quest for increase in funding and number of personnel as its success is crucial in stamping out crime in Nigeria,” he stated.
The Committee on Narcotic Drugs cautioned against exposing officers and men of the NDLEA to danger due to lack of a secured residential quarters and promised to facilitate the construction of barracks for the agency as the legislators were unanimous that the NDLEA needs to have barracks for the safety and convenience of its personnel.
Dr. Ottah Agbo said the agency needs to be encouraged to sustain the fight against drug trafficking and substance abuse and that his committee will do all within its powers including approving the proposal for barracks to ensure that.
Chairman of the NDLEA, Brig-Gen Mohammed Buba Marwa (Retd) had while presenting the 2023 budget proposal of the agency to the House Committee spelt out the dangers, operatives of the agency are exposed to, as a result of not having quarters or barracks.
The NDLEA boss said that a situation where operatives live in same vicinities with drug barons who they investigate could be life threatening to the officers and men of NDLEA!
Gen. Marwa thanked Dr. Ottah Agbo and his team for their kind and generous words and commended them for consistency in their support, saying this demonstrates remarkable interest in the fight against the drug scourge.
Noting the commitment the legislators have shown in pursuing the amendment of the NDLEA Act, and canvassing compulsory routine drug tests for elective positions as well as for showing keen understanding of the consequences of low funding, Marwa appreciated the support and collaboration by the lawmakers.
The NDLEA is proposing a N40 billion budget for 2023 with a recurrent estimate of N18.6 billion and capital estimate of N21.4 billion.