He acknowledged that with the support of UTA and other similar organisations, the burden of the fight against drug abuse and trafficking will be complemented
As part of Advocacy visits to build partnership and collaboration in their ongoing enlightenment campaign, the United Towns Agency for North South Cooperation, UTA-Nigeria, on Friday, June 16, 2023 paid a Courtesy Visit to the Chairman of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in their headquarters in Abuja.
The UTA delegation led by the Country President, Princess Abigail Amalaha was received by the Secretary of the Agency, Mr Shedrach Haruna on behalf of the Chairman, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (Rtd.).
In her address, Princess Amalaha explained that UTA is a humanitarian and Non-Profit organ of the United Nations with ECOSOC status. She further stated that the organisation has its presence in over 110 countries with varying interventions in some of the 17 core focus of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
According to Princess Amalaha, the essence of the visit is for UTA to extend her hands of fellowship and solidarity to NDLEA in their fight against Drug Abuse and Trafficking. She stated that NDLEA is the Lead Agency in the war against drug abuse and trafficking in Nigeria and Africa at large.
She also reiterated that the elimination of drug abuse and trafficking falls within the development agenda of UTA, towards Sustainable Development, hence the need to collaborate and work with NDLEA in the fight against the menace of drug abuse and trafficking.
In his response, the Secretary of the Agency, Mr Haruna expressed appreciation on behalf of the Chairman for the visit by UTA. He explained that the fight against drug abuse and trafficking in Nigeria have not been an easy one considering the fact that the traffickers are becoming more daring. He also confirmed that the Agency, apart being equal to the task, by matching the traffickers in their antics, the Agency is also winning the war.
He acknowledged that with the support of UTA and other similar organisations, the burden of the fight against drug abuse and trafficking will be complemented.
Both UTA and NDLEA also exchanged ideas on the level and form of partnership and collaboration in the onerous task of fighting the battle against drug abuse and trafficking in Nigeria.
Other members of the UTA delegation, include Dr Jimoh Abubakar, member, Board of Trustees and some management members of the organisation.
The event was also attended by some directors of the Agency.
The UTA Country President was later decorated as an Ambassador of War Against Drug Abuse by the Agency’s Director of Drug Demand Reduction, Dr Ngozi Madubuike.