Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has charged the 2,000 newly trained Officers of the anti-narcotics body to resist every temptation that could make them compromise their duties and responsibilities.

Gen. Marwa gave this charge at the passing out parade of the new Officers at the NDLEA Academy, Jos, Plateau State on Friday. He said that they were coming into the Agency at a time when the institution is being overhauled to make it more effective and efficient. As such, he said their months of training at the Academy must count through impactful contributions to its goal of ridding Nigeria of drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking.

"You are coming into the Agency at an auspicious time when the Management has pushed the reset button and commenced the overhaul of the old system and its encumbrances. Your employment coincides with a time we are putting in place all that is necessary to foster the enabling work environment that makes a career in the NDLEA gratifying.

“Having been given the necessary training, we expect you to make your presence count with impact contributions to the achievement of the Agencys objectives in its campaign against abuse and trafficking of illicit substances. Qualities such as loyalty, discipline and diligence would help you to have a fulfilling career in a paramilitary organisation such as NDLEA.

“Let me also bring to your awareness how important you are now to society. Only very few occupations afford an individual the opportunity of direct, meaningful impact on societys wellbeing. 

"You are part of a community of custodians who are assigned the responsibility of safeguarding societys sanity and safety against the corrosion of illicit substances. And today, I charge you thus: do not disappoint the Agency, and the society at large, and more importantly, do not disappoint yourselves.”

He warned them that they would be faced with temptations from the dark world of drug barons and their cartels in the course of their duties. He said the new Officers and their senior compatriots must remain upright and patriotic always.

"I will not downplay the fact that the world of illicit drugs is a dark, dangerous underworld that must be met with uprightness, patriotism and strong will. That is why we are working purposely to put in place a welfare package that will shield you from circumstances or conditions that may predispose you to compromise your duties and responsibilities. 

“Your upbringing and the training you have undergone should imbue you with the moral fibre to withstand the lure of filthy lucre, which is the weapon of drug barons.

"And always remember that traffickers, barons and cartels are opposing forces with whom you must not have any communion whatsoever. As you take the first major step as anti-narcotic agents, I wish you a successful, fulfilling career in the NDLEA.”

He commended the leadership and staff of the Academy for doing a great job in the training of such number of officers and men, as well as other stakeholders who helped to make the exercise successful. 

He stated tha whatever transformation is happening in the Agency is made possible through the unflinching support of Muhammadu Buhari, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, whose political will, support and encouragement has brought about the renaissance in the Agency today, he stated.

The passing out parade was attended by eminent dignitaries from within and outside the State, including Governor Simon Bako Lalong represented by his deputy, Prof Sonni Tyoden; Chairman, Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics, Senator Hezekiah Dimka; Chairman, House Committee on Narcotic Drugs, Hon. Francis Ottah Agbo, top State Officials and Heads of other Security Agencies in the State, among others.

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