The anti-narcotics agency also revealed that it has established an emergency call centre to provide counselling services for drug abuse victims and discourage the stigmatisation of persons struggling with substance abuse.
The event was held on Wednesday, June 21, at the Residency Hotel, No. 4, Port Harcourt Crescent, off Gimbya Street, by the NDLEA National Headquarters, Area 11, Abuja.
The presentation of the book, “The Last Syndicate,” authored by a commander of the NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, was organised by the NDLEA Celebrity Drug-Free Club in commemoration of the 2023 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking.
Speaking at the event, Ofoyeju said the book contains an anti-drug message that would be further adapted into a movie to reach a wider audience.
“The book talks about a certain drug baron, Mr. Mudiaga, whose drug business was destroying other young people’s lives in Nigeria while his three children lived and were studying abroad.
“But nemesis caught up with him and his two sons, who, unknown to him, were involved in a drug ring and were killed during a clash between two different drug cartels abroad, while his daughter died from use of illicit drugs after contracting HIV-AIDS from a drug injection tool,” Ofoyeju noted.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, who represented the agency’s chairman, Brig Gen Mohammed Buba Marwa (retd.), said a drug abuse call centre recently launched by the NDLEA to provide anonymous counselling services to victims was witnessing a lot of patronage because the people were not afraid of being stigmatised.
Babafemi said, “It should also be noted that the agency recently launched a drug abuse call centre with a toll-free helpline to enable members of the public to assess counselling and treatment from the comfort of their homes.
“I am glad to state that the patronage of the centre by members of the public is very encouraging and this is because the gap that has over the years existed between those who are struggling with substance abuse and the treatment they need has been breached because now they no longer have the fear of being judged or stigmatisation.”
He commended the Celebrity Drug Free Club for taking the initiative to fight drug abuse in society and promised to continue supporting them.
“The club is a platform set up by celebrities to advance the campaign against substance abuse in the country, first within the industry where they operate and then to the larger society.
“We believe this would help to positively influence their fans and followers, especially on social media, where they will have quite a lot of influence. This would help them stay away from substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking. We must also know that the agency supported their efforts.
“The theme for this year’s celebration, People First: Stop Stigma and Discrimination, Strengthen Prevention’ no doubt reaffirms the importance of protecting humanity from the consequences of illicit drug and substance abuse. I urge our stakeholders to continue to promote the campaign against substance abuse,” he added.
The coordinator, NDLEA Celebrity Drug Free Club, Mr Wilson Igbodado, expressed his gratitude to the NDLEA boss for his support.
He said, “This is an important day to reflect on the global challenge of illicit drugs and substance abuse. The International Day against Drug Abuse and Drug Trafficking is principally to strengthen actions and cooperation in achieving the goal of a world free from drug abuse.
“The theme this year is People First Stop Stigma and Discrimination. It resonates with the club’s vision of getting people involved in global campaigns. This year’s theme raises awareness about importance of treating people who use drugs with respect, empathy and providing evidence-based quality service for all. We would continue to work with Celebrities with good track records to advance the campaign.”
Meanwhile, the Emir of Keffi, Dr. Shehu Yamusa, noted that he regrets that drug abuse has become prevalent in the country, adding that it needs to be urgently tackled to secure the future of young people.
“The problem can be tackled if we all play our roles in the eradication of drug abuse. As parents, we would try to notice signs of addiction in our children. If all stakeholders—parents and the community—play their part, the fight against drug abuse will be won,” he said.
