The African Union (AU) Commission has said that the development of a new action plan on drug control and crime prevention in Africa will be incomplete without input from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), given its pivotal role in regional law enforcement.
The commission said this on Monday, June 30, during an assessment visit to the agency’s national headquarters in Abuja.
The three-member delegation comprises Dr. Olubusayo Akinola, Head of Social Welfare, Drug Control and Crime Prevention; Dr. Abiola Olaleye, Senior Drug Epidemiology and Research Officer; and Prof. Johan Strijdom, Senior Drug Control Consultant, according to NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi.
Babafemi said in a statement sent to Persecondnews on Monday that the visit aimed to evaluate the African Union’s Plan of Action on Drug Control and Crime Prevention (2019-2025).
The leader of the delegation, Dr Akinola, said: “We are here to assess the implementation status of the continental action plan on drug control and crime prevention. As we prepare to launch a new plan from 2026 to 2030, we are reviewing the current one.
“We have selected a few countries to gain insights into the plan’s implementation, identify gaps and consider emerging trends that can inform our new strategy.
“We have a thorough understanding of the NDLEA’s work and believe that the new action plan cannot be finalised without input from NDLEA Nigeria. Given your pivotal role in law enforcement across the continent, your contributions are essential.”
The delegation praised the NDLEA for consistently providing vital and policy-relevant data, which has substantially informed the Commission’s work over the years.
The visit, they said, aimed to gather a comprehensive update on the implementation status of national drug control strategies, identify operational and institutional gaps, and explore potential areas for technical assistance.
Key areas of focus included capacity development, forensic science capabilities, canine detection units and other strategic enablers of drug control efforts.
Welcoming the delegation, the NDLEA Chairman/CEO, retired Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa, highlighted the mission’s importance, saying that he deemed it essential to receive the team personally given the strategic significance of their engagement.
He said: “We are particularly pleased that the African Union is giving due weight to the implementation of the continental action plan, not merely as a theoretical exercise, but by undertaking direct field consultations with national counterparts.
“This grounded, evidence-informed approach will undoubtedly result in a more pragmatic and responsive framework for implementation.”
Marwa underscored the urgency of addressing the continent’s growing drug challenge, adding that while global projections estimate a 10-11% rise in drug use prevalence, Africa is expected to experience a surge of up to 40%.
He also said: “This disparity signals a looming crisis that demands coordinated and accelerated action. We deeply appreciate the AU’s leadership in this space and commend your proactive efforts.”
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