The Nigerian Army Officers Wives’ Association, NAOWA, has expressed its commitement to work with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in the fight against drug abuse in the country.
This was made known when the president of NAOWA, Mrs. Salamatu Faruk Yahaya, on Friday, led a delegation of the Association’s executives on a courtesy visit to the anti-narcotics agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
Mrs. Yahaya, who noted that the Association had been following the tremendous achievements recorded by the agency in the last 18 months, averred that a partnership between the association and the anti-narcotics agency would be mutually beneficial, as she plans to take the anti-drug campaign to the barracks.
She listed areas of partnership to include training of NAOWA members and staff in early detection and identification of substance abuse and how to conduct drug prevention programs.
Others were training on measures to prevent drug trafficking, and channels for reporting drug activities.
Responding, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), commended the Association for the laudable initiatives it had undertaken under Mrs. Yahaya’s leadership, which he said, had transformed the Association.
He said the agency would require support from NAOWA in the area of drug demand and supply activities, while stressing that addiction was no respecter of persons or families.
Marwa further urged NAOWA to take advantage of the Agency’s 24/7 toll free helpline recently launched to assist drug-dependent persons seeking help without stigmatization.
He also requested the Association to facilitate the establishment of counselling centres in barracks across the country to cater to the needs of people suffering from drug use disorders.
The NDLEA chief equally tasked the organization to join the agency in promoting drug tests by intending couples before marriage, adding that the fear of testing positive will deter potential users from getting involved with drugs.
He also promised that NDLEA would fully support NAOWA in its proposed drug enlightenment efforts through training.
