The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.) has called for more participation by NGOs and well-to-do individuals in the fight against the endemic drug abuse crisis in the country.
He made this call recently when he paid a working visit to the Christ Against Drug Abuse Ministry (CADAM), at the Enoch and Folu Adeboye Rehabilitation Centre, Araga, Epe, Lagos.
While pouring encomiums on staff and management of CADAM who he described as ‘doing a wonderful job’, Marwa called on Nigerians to emulate CADAM in the fight against the scourge of drug abuse. ‘In this war against drug abuse, the totality of Nigerians have to stand up, not leaving the work only to the NDLEA or CADAM.
“We all have to stand up to take back our country from the stranglehold of drug abuse. Well-to-do individuals, NGOs and private organisations can augment our effort by setting up private rehab centres such as what CADAM is doing.
“We only have 11 modern rehab centre’s in the whole country under the federal ministry of health. This is not enough. Recently I was invited to commission one in Ogbomosho set up by a community,” he said.
The Chairman also used the opportunity to commend the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG and his wife- Pastor Enoch and Folu Adeboye who are patrons of CADAM for their unwavering determination in being at the vanguard of the fight against drug abuse.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Director General of CADAM, Dr. Dokun Adedeji who expressed excitement on the visit of the Chairman intimated the NDLEA DG of the strides that CADAM has made in recent times including the centres with which it works across the country.
Revealing that CADAM ensures that students are well cartered for, trained and rehabilitated without any cost to them, he reiterated the institution’s readiness to continually do its best in its fight against drug abuse in Nigeria through the rehabilitation of drug addicts.
The NDLEA Chairman also had a firsthand privilege to listen to some students of CADAM talk about their experience at the institution. One of them, Genny Erewa from Benin in Edo state revealed that she had been on drug for 17 years before God gave her a second chance through her contact with CADAM where she has been able to learn a vocation.
Ebube is another beneficiary of CADAM who hails from Togo. He revealed that he had spent a greater part of 25 years doing drugs before he was ‘rescued’ by CADAM and empowered to learn a vocation.
Temitope Ajayi, who have been smoking for 11years also applauded CADAM for accommodating her and changing her lifestyle as well as delivering her from taking cocaine addiction. Today, she has learnt the fine art of making shoes from the institution.
Chidi, another beneficiary affirmed that CADAM as the best rehabilitation centre in West Africa, arguing that not only is it saying other rehabilitation center charge huge amount of money and they use drug to treat drug so that when you go you will still come back to them to pay more money but with CADAM Is totally free of charge and there is freedom of movement at the rehabilitation center.
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