The Katsina state command of the National Drug law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have cried out over poor government funding of operational activities and inadequate logistics which has hampered the successful prosecution of the drug war in the state.
The NDLEA coordinator in the state, Hajia Miriam Gambo Sani, told the Nation in an exclusive interview that the federal government have shown unserious attitude towards the current fight against drug abuse and drug related crimes in the state and country, adding that there are little chances of any success on the on-going war if the situation remains the same
Hajia Sani insisted further that the attitude of governments both at federal, states and local levels, especially in the area of funding and provision of critically needed logistics, does not speak well of a country determined to win the drug war, against unrepentant addict and peddlers alike
She said ’’we don’t have the requisite manpower, sufficient operational vehicles both at the state and the national headquarters of the agency, budgetary allocations to the agency have been dwindling over the successive years’’
‘’In Katsina for instance there are several local government areas and village outlets we have not visited or covered even for once due to manpower shortages and operation needs.
‘’ We have a situation where one area command covers 6 local government areas’’
‘’what happens in our head office is a reflection of the situation in the state commands. The federal government is not serious in fighting drug crime’’
She further disclosed that the agency in collaboration with the state government and other siater security agencies are embarking on public enlightenment campaigns targeted at the youths, who according to her embrace the culture of drug abuse through peer groups and social contacts
She called on the federal government and other tiers, to embrace the fight against drug crimes with renewed commitment and attention.
She further alluded to a situation where the state can only boast of two operational vehicles to cover a state with a population of over 7 million people as very disturbing.
