Over N90 billion worth drugs have been seized by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the last six months, NDLEA chairman Buba Marwa, has said.
Marwa said this on Saturday at the launch of War Against Drug Abuse in commemoration of the United Nations International Day against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Marwa, who was appointed to head the antidrug agency by President MuhammaduBuhari on January 16, said his efforts have yielded positive results as over 2,180 traffickers have been arrested, and 2,100 drug offenders prosecuted with 500 jailed by courts.
“The National Drug Survey 2019, for example, indicated that cannabis is the most commonly abused substance by an estimated 10.6 million Nigerians, some of whom started smoking as early as 19 years of age. The Global Drug Survey 2019, also, cited cannabis as the most abused substance with West Africa having the highest abuse prevalence,” he said.
“The World Health Organisation on substance abuse also stated unequivocally that cannabis is the most widely used illicit substance in Africa, with the highest prevalence, between 5.2 per cent and 13.5 per cent, found in West Africa. Ladies and Gentlemen, West Africa, by implication, means Nigeria.”.,
