UNODC TO TRAIN 200 NDLEA OFFICERS, OTHERS IN DRUG DEMAND REDUCTION

[NDLEA]

   About 200 officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) will be trained by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on best practices on drug demand reduction. Other drug abuse treatment centres are to participate in the European Union funded project which will involve the regulation, upgrading and streamlining of drug abuse counselling, treatment and rehabilitation practice in Nigeria.

 

UNODC representative in Nigeria, Mrs Mariam Sissoko and UNODC regional adviser on HIV and AIDS, Dr Rechad Abdool were received at the Agency’s headquarters in Lagos by the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade. Welcoming the partnership, Giade said that “the Agency is prepared to collaborate with UNODC, European Union and other stakeholders on narcotics and organised crime control in the country.”

 

According to Giade, “this visit is timely in addressing the current problem of drug use among youths. We have in the last two years discovered five clandestine laboratories used for the production of methamphetamine in the country. The implication is that methamphetamine which is a powerful stimulant is now being produced locally. This must be checked at all levels. Drug transit countries are at risk of becoming drug consumers and there is even a higher risk when the drugs are locally produced. There is no better time to plan against drug abuse especially among the youths”.

 

Dr Abdool praised Nigeria’s expertise in drug demand reduction adding that the UNODC would enhance the capacity of drug experts in the country. He said “Nigeria has a lot of experts that can be used in creating a new and upgraded drug rehabilitation infrastructure. We hope to enhance the capacity of these experts for quality service delivery in drug counselling, treatment and rehabilitation with NDLEA as the coordinating body”.

 

UNODC Country representative, Mrs Sissoko added that about 200 NDLEA officers will participate in the first phase of the project along with personnel from certified drug abuse treatment centres selected from the six geo-political zones in the country. “The project is designed to develop the capacity of professionals in charge of drug abuse treatment in the country. In the first phase, six treatment centres one from each geopolitical zone shall be upgraded to international standard. The ultimate aim is to encourage professionalism such that every practitioner both at the government and Non-Governmental level can operate within a minimum international standard in drug abuse counselling, treatment and rehabilitation”.

 

The visit of the UNODC boss which coincided with the first national planning committee meeting for the commemoration of the international day against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking is expected to strengthen drug control activities in the country. June 26 every year has been set aside by the United Nations in commemoration of the fight against drug production, trafficking and abuse.

 



Via: NDLEA Press Release

[Folami David]

This is a very fantastic move i must confess. The training would definately improve them big time. Nyc one.