The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) are set to collaborate towards building more rehabilitation centres in the country.
The Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa expressed this willingness during a courtesy visit on Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in his office in Abuja.
A statement signed on Friday by Gabriel Odu of the Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit, NiDCOM said Dabiri-Erewa revealed that with the alarming rate of drug abuse in the country, some Nigerians in the diaspora have shown interest in building rehabilitation centres across the country.
She however said a major obstacle is the availability of land, adding a lot of them in the diaspora are willing to offer free counselling services.
The NiDCOM boss explained that the visit to NDLEA has become expedient against the backdrop of the Zainab Aliyu’s case of May 14, 2019 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Zainab Aliyu was allegedly caught with drug in her luggage and accused of drug trafficking. She consequently sentenced to death but through the intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari, facilitated by Ministry of Foreign Affairs and NiDCOM, she was set free after it was discovered that some airport workers planted the drugs in her luggage.
Dabiri-Erewa noted that the intriguing thing was that those who set her up were yet to be prosecuted in the law court, allowing them to walk about freely.
She added that: ”The culprits have been apprehended but they are walking about freely. It’s been two years and nothing has been done.”
Zainab Aliyu who was present at the visit with her sister while appreciating the intervention of President Buhari in her case, also pleaded for justice. She said: “My case has been in court for over two years and some months now. All I want is justice for me and other victims like me.”
The Chairman, NDLEA, Marwa who commended NiDCOM for its excellent public image and accomplishments within a short period, revealed his interest in the case and assured that his office will not relent until justice is served.
Marwa gave assurances that the airports are now more strict, and efforts have been intensified to safeguard innocent citizens and reduce drug related incidence at the airport.
Marwa also welcomed NiDCOM’s initiative whereby Nigerians in the diaspora will embark on sensitisation and counselling against drug use, abuse and trafficking, especially by young adults and the building of more rehabilitation centres across the country.
The NDLEA boss stated further that more rehabilitation centres are needed, “as we seize and prosecute, we should also consider those who abuse substances and find ways to rehabilitate them”, he said.
Stay ahead with the latest updates! Join The ConclaveNG on WhatsApp and Telegram for real-time news alerts, breaking stories, and exclusive content delivered straight to your phone. Don’t miss a headline — subscribe now!
