Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Ikanade Agba, on Monday, listed some of the key achievements of the European Union (EU) Response to Drugs and Related Organised Crime in Nigeria.
Agba listed the achievements in his opening remarks at the Final Project Management Committee (PMC) meeting and closure event of the European Union response to drugs and related organised crime in Nigeria held
at the UN House.
According to him: “Today, we are happy to state some of the key achievements of the Programme which are not limited to the following- the production of the National Drug Control Master Plan (2021-2025); published survey on cannabis cultivation in Nigeria; completion of pilot phase of implementation of sentencing guidelines, aimed at ensuring transparency, predictability, fairness and proportionality in the adjudication of drug cases in six (6) States; training of over 3500 NDLEA officers, investigators and prosecutors on various aspects of drug control; training of over 2500 NDLEA officers in 33 e-learning courses through the Global e-Learning programme; strengthened capacity of NDLEA Training Academy; strengthened capacity of 11 Model Treatment Centres; strengthened Information technology base of NDLEA, FMOH and other agencies; and trained more than 8000 individuals in Drug Prevention Treatment and Care training.”
The Minister said the emphasis of the Project had been on the intersection between drugs and organized crime, in line with relevant international conventions and adopting a balanced, human-rights-based approach rooted in international best practice.
He said the Programme provided an avenue for the UNODC to support Nigerian partners in developing evidence-based policies and in improving legislation and coordination in pursuit of a balanced approach to drug control, with equal emphasis being provided to drug demand reduction and to supply suppression.
Agba said the project had also contributed to improving law enforcement and regulatory capacity in drug control and in tackling organized drug-related crime, as well as the enhancement of drug prevention, treatment and care service provided by various actors.
“Being one of the interventions under the Governance, Peace and Migration Focal Area of the 10th European Development Fund (EDF)-National Indicative Programme (NIP) for Nigeria, the Project aligns with some of the objectives of the National Development Plan (NDP 2021-2025), and the National Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP 2021-2025).
“Some of these NDP objectives include to improve efforts of State and Civil Society actors in fighting drug production, trafficking and use, as well as curbing related organized crime, including counterfeit narcotics and psychotropic substances.
“These objectives are being realized by providing training and ensuring strong partnership with law enforcement agencies, enhance capacity across the public, private and social sectors through sensitization, as well as expanding citizens engagement and inclusion through policy changes and technology adoption.
“The importance of this intervention can only be appreciated when viewed against the backdrop of the negative impact of illicit drug use on public health, the future of youths and national security.”
Agba added: “Its negative consequences on business productivity pose a serious threat to economic growth. That explains why efforts geared towards tackling drug abuse are invariably steps in the direction of national development.”
The Minister further stated that effective planning and coordination led to the planning of different initiatives according to local context that resulted in the implementation of hundreds of project activities in the development of evidence-based policies and strategies, institutional capacity building and legislative support, drug prevention, treatment and care and access and control.
He said any major project completion required proper closure, how to improve it and the takeaways, which would be applied into the next project.
“From the coordination point of view; as the National Authorising Officer, I had many takeaways and they are worth sharing because they were the key factors, which kept the project going in spite of the various hurdles, difficulties and problems encountered.
“Most times, those hurdles used to appear insurmountable, but for our resolve and persuasive power, which the team had, we ensured that they were all addressed,” he added.
The Minister expressed sincere appreciation to the European Union for the immense assistance to the country and also commended UNODC for their efforts in the implementation of the project.
He also acknowledged the cooperation of other stakeholders during the cause of the implementation of the project.
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