Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti has renewed his administrations unwaivering commitment and support to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), in their efforts to combat drug abuse and insecurity in the state.
Governor Otti stated this when he received in audience, the new State Commandant of the NDLEA, Mr Nnadi Chidi, at his Nvosi Isialangwa South LGA residence.
The Governor who highlighted the evolving nature of the drug menace and its correlation with criminal activities, advocated for a multi-faceted approach with intelligence-driven strategies in combating the menace.
He underscored the need for collaborative efforts between government and security agencies in combating crime and drug related offenses, assuring that the state Government would give the needed support to rid the state of all forms of crime and criminality.
“When you look at crime and drug, you’ll see that they are closely related. You will find that in a lot of cases, people who get involved in crime and criminality start with drugs. .
“Drugs have been so cheap these days and their prices have reduced so much because there are alternatives.
“The fight against drugs has metamorphosed into something a bit more difficult because we’re not dealing with wide range of issues.
“So whether you are Army, Navy, DSS, we are all one. Anywhere we need to give support, you don’t even need to ask.You can count on Government to give you support so that we can rid this place of criminals”, Gov Otti assured
Governor Otti recommended the team to meet with his SSA on Homeland Security so as to identify and eliminate hotspots.
The Governor also emphasized the role of education in crime prevention and expressed optimism that with the free and compulsory education for school aged children in primary and secondary school, people vulnerable to frogs and criminality will refund significantly.
Earlier, the State Commandant, NDLEA, Abia State Command, Mr Nnadi Chidi, while noting that his visit is aimed at familiarizing himself with the Governor following his assumption of office, said the Agency is commitment to combating drug abuse and insecurity in the state.
Commandant Nnadi expressed gratitude to Governor Otti and the First Lady, Mrs Priscilia Otti for her passionate involvement in awareness campaigns and the rehabilitation of drug users.
He highlighted the inauguration of the State Drug Control Committee, chaired by the First Lady, is a significant step toward tackling the issue at the grassroots level and pointed out that the committee aligns with the national drug control master plan, which mandates every state to establish such structures to effectively address drug-related challenges.
