“Drugs are the enemies of ambition and hope, and when we fight against drugs we are fighting for the future.”  – Bob Riley “Having 14.3 million Nigerians abusing drugs, with 10.6 million addicted to cannabis portends grave consequences.”– Gen. Buba Marwa, Chairman/CEO, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)

The increasing menace of hard drug trafficking and the attendant addiction to them, especially by the youth in Nigeria should be a source of great concern to us all; not the least the parents of all the culprits of both evil practices. While it is gratifying that the retired Brigadier – General Buba Marwa-led National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has been welding the magic wand, to stem the swirling tide of the heinous crimes against humanity, since early 2021 it cannot do it all alone.

With empirical evidences on ground, the Silverbird Special Achievement Award 2021 conferred on Marwa, is well deserved. As he rightly noted the achievements of the agency in the last one year remains the best in 30 years. For instance, a total of 12,306 suspects, including seven barons were arrested in the last one year.  1,400 offenders were convicted of offences of drug peddling while 1,502 cases were left pending in courts. Over 3.4 million kilograms of assorted drugs and related cash worth over N130 billion were seized last year. Frightening figures, aren’t they?  Of course, they are and seriously troubling. The agency’s series of interceptions and seizures of cocaine and heroin at the MMIA includes “what stands today as the biggest single seizure from an individual in 15 years, which is 26.840kg of cocaine smuggled from Brazil in January, 24.05 kg of heroin in April, 27.95 kg of cocaine in May and 26.15kg of Heroin also  in May 2021. Apart from the former DCP Abba Kyari’s  drug-related saga, the recent arrest of one  Ugochukwu Emmanuel Ekwem, the General Overseer of Christ Living Hope Church, at the MMIA, Ikeja, Lagos state while on his way to a three-week crusade in Nairobi, Kenya, with 54 sticks of drugs wrapped around his body is simply horrifying? A pastor, who is supposed to be an epitome of morality?  What about the reported arrest of a 52-year-old father of four children who claims to be a businessman, Okeke Adolphus Anayochukwu. He was caught by NDLEA operatives with black liquid cocaine at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA Abuja. That was the first-of-its kind in Nigeria’s history! You cannot what lessons has he been teaching his children? And that ugly incident brings to mind the bold topic that came to the fore at the Second Annual Seminar of Bells University Parents Forum (BUPF) in Ota, Ogun State. That was in 2014. Not only was the thematically relevant issue, thought-provoking, as it was aptly delivered by Dr. Dokun Adedeji, a medical expert and the CEO of Mind Trials Limited but it focused attention on the significant roles parents and lecturers could play in mitigating the scourge.

But first, the parents have to know more about what hard drugs are all about. While noting that a drug is any chemical other than food or water, which affects the way and manner consumers think, feel, see and behave, its abuse has serious implications for both the consumers and the larger society. Indeed, it could affect the individual cognitively and physically. Addiction to any hard drug simply means that the user can no longer function in the absence of these drugs. The common ones include Indian hemp, cocaine and heroin. According to NAFDAC (2000) and Haladu (2003), stimulants which are substances that directly act and stimulate the Central Nervous System include Hallucinogens-drugs that alter the sensory processing unit within the brain. They produce distorted perception, feeling of anxiety and euphoria, sadness and inner joy (cannabis, LSD). Narcotics are drugs which relieve pains and induce sleeping (heroin, codeine and opium).

Sedatives are among the most widely used and abused. This is due to the belief or perception that they relieve stress and anxiety, and some of them induce sleep, ease tension, cause relaxation or help users to forget their problems (valium and alcohol). On their part, Tranquilizers produce calmness without inducing drowsiness (librium, valium etc).Apart from these there a group of volatile solvents or inhalants that produce euphoria, emotional dis-inhibition and perpetual distortion of thoughts (glues, spot removers, perfumes).

Globally,  between 102,000 and 247,000 died from drug overdose in 2011 alone (UNODC). Though South Africa’s drug addiction was ranked as twice the world normal with 15 per cent of its citizens actively involved in its consumption, Nigeria was ranked as the 8th highest consumer of Indian hemp or cannabis. From NDLEA records cannabis accounted for 80 per cent of substance abuse in Nigeria. That was over a decade ago.  According to a 2013 study, 90 per cent of drugs abusers are teenagers and young adults between the age of 15 and 29.It means that these youths constitute a wasting generation. Inadvertently, the addict becomes a financial and social burden on his parents and the larger society. The victim is susceptible to criminal activities to raise all the huge funds needed to keep up the self-decimating habit in addition to reducing the country’s labour force.

According to Adedeji, an addicted person may show a decline in academic performance, frequently fail to attend classes, lose interest in school work and display weakened motor coordination, poor health and a lack of interest in old friendships. As for Haladu (2003) the causes of drug abuse include experimental curiosity, peer group influence, lack of parental supervision and personality problems due to socio-economic conditions. Other factors may include the need for energy to work for long hours, availability of drugs and the need to prevent withdrawal symptoms. Parents, primary, secondary and tertiary institution authorities should be on the lookout for presence of drugs and their paraphernalia like foil, rolling paper, mirror, straw and blade. They may also be in possession of actual drugs, seeds or leaves in ash-tray or on clothing. They should be conscious of odour of drug, smell of incense, use of strong perfumes and strong menthol sweets to dampen or obscure smell. Establish and nurture good relationship with their children. Lead by example.

To curb with the menace of hard drugs parents must allocate quality time, to be there for their children. They must discard the know-it-all attitude. It is necessary to allow for heart-to-heart discussions before decisions are taken or foisted on family members. Parents too should have open mind to seek more knowledge about contemporary issues affecting young people. Parents of drug addicts should seek professional help from qualified medical personnel when necessary and not be high handed or exact harsh punitive measures that could harden the hearts of the victims.  Instead, they should be compassionate and provide the strong shoulders for them to lean on. The Guidance and Counselling Officer should seek relevant knowledge to address deviant cases and should encourage and accommodate self-disclosure by the student victims.

We all-parents, teachers and other students should avoid stigmatization of the addicts. They need help. That calls for drug advocacy within the educational institution as an open affair. If they ever find themselves in sticky situations they should ask for help as soon as possible to resolve all forms of conflict. There should be no room for experimentation; to even try the drugs at all.   

Above all, the students themselves must come to terms with the fact they bear the primary and absolute responsibility for their lives, for as Donald Lyn Frost rightly noted: “Drugs take you to hell, disguised as heaven.”  “Nobody in his right senses will wake up today and say he wants to kidnap 300 children if he is not under the influence of drugs. Now, criminals use ransoms for drugs. Criminality in Nigeria is fueled by drugs. It’s the role of the NDLEA, to stop drug peddling, even though some of these crimes, are fueled by poverty and unemployment.”

Baje writes from Lagos

Whereas many Nigerians see the world from the news and opinion perspectives of various global radio and television networks- mostly western-inclined, the Voice of Nigeria has remained the major news outlet through which the global community view Nigeria and its people.

The dominant radio and television networks across the globe are CNN, Voice of America, British Broadcasting Corporation, Deutsche welle radio and Aljazerra television network. The major objective of all these media organisations is to project their various countries and ownership positively and use their outfits to influence the global community.

It was therefore to strike a balance in information dissemination especially as it relates to projecting Nigeria to the outside world that the Zik/Tafawa Balewa government set up the Voice of Nigeria in1961. Since then the organisation has continued to discharge its mandates, but with the assumption of office by the present Director General Mr. Osita OkeChukwu Voice of Nigeria has taken a quantum leap in not just projecting Nigeria positively abroad, but has also focussed on marketing the numerous achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

In their broadcasts they deliberately dwell on reeling out President Buhari’s achievements in infrastructure, economy, security and agriculture, thereby providing potential foreign investors with an opportunity to peep into Nigeria and get sufficient knowledge on the areas they may be interested.  With about 200 million population, arable land, oil and gas deposits, gold and numerous business potentials, there is no doubt that the information and news analysis being broadcast by the Voice of Nigeria through several platforms, including the social media have contributed immensely in informing and educating their listeners and audiences about the great business opportunities which the country offers.

Perhaps the zeal with which the Voice of Nigeria promotes Nigeria to the global community can be traced to the passion of its chief executive/Director General Mr. Osita OkeChukwu who has been a mouthpiece of the numerous achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. On a daily basis he never relents in availing the Nigerian publics through radio, television and the print media of the numerous projects the Buhari administration has executed across the country. His passion and love for the Buhari administration is unassailable. His belief in the oneness and greatness of the ruling All Progressives Congress and Nigeria as a country is unmatched.

Before I digress, let me state that OkeChukwu’s capacity to turn institutions around for optimum performance is once more demonstrated in his administrative style at the Voice of Nigeria- Nigeria’s mirror to the outside world. Under his watch, the outside world is able to hear about Nigeria and the infrastructural revolution taking place under President Muhammadu Buhari, and this has contributed to the influx of foreign investors, as well as the positive attention which the country continues to receive globally.

The high and commendable performance of the Voice of Nigeria in recent times can also be attributed to the motivation which the workers have been given under Mr. Osita OkeChukwu as their welfare and promotion have continued to receive adequate attention. Concomitantly this has resulted in optimum job performance with most staff members putting in their best for the overall growth of the organisation.

It is worthy of note that in its efforts to reach a higher number of listeners across the world, the Voice of Nigeria under Mr. Osita OkeChukwu has expanded the platforms through which listeners and other audiences can access their broadcasts, and they include Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms.  They also stream live to their audiences through the VON apps. This is in addition to their normal terrestrial broadcast.

For an organisation that was established in 1961 with the sole mandate to broadcast about Nigeria to the outside world, it can be said that they have largely attained the objective bearing in mind that it was after 30 years of the organisation’s establishment that it was severed from then Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation and given full autonomy by an Act of Parliament No 15 of 1991.  With offices in seventeen states of the country and staff strength of 1200 the organisation now boasts of state of the art studios at their corporate headquarters in Abuja. The station has also been fully digitized as they now broadcast through Digital Radio Mundial (DRM).

Due to the need to maintain a two-way communication between the station and its audiences, there is a feedback mechanism that enables the audiences and listenership to send back their views through emails, social media platforms and terrestrial broadcast system.

As a station with diverse listenership and audiences, the station broadcasts in eight languages including Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, Fulani, Fulfude, Arabic, Kiswahili and English. With their reach in these languages and in several countries, there is no doubt that VON remains a veritable tool to project Nigeria to the outside world.

There is therefore the need for all concerned to lend the necessary support to the Voice of Nigeria in its mission to continue to promote Nigeria’s image positively across the globe, and the present leadership of the organisation under Mr. Osita OkeChukwu deserves an accolade for their visionary and prudent management of its affairs.

Enekwechi, can be reached via Kwechis19@yahoo.com

It’s been the system of governance in our nation where for every government, a cabal runs its affairs.

My experience over the years and based on verified information reveals the stranglehold on elected Government officials by those who either sponsored their election or those who were appointed into high profile positions. They are usually family members and familiar friends.

These groups of people decide what document the President or the Governor sees and approves. They unashamedly flaunt their influence on the ‘king’ and brag about their rights to see, hear and speak for the person in power.

When I led my team to be part of the development of the Niger Delta region under Citizens Quest  For Truth Initiative, a lot was unravelled and revealed.

I have learnt that sometimes the truth hurts, so I keep somethings within me and they may never be revealed till eternity.

The fact remains that most of those around the government are not sincere and have no passion or patriotism for the nation first, and to those who appointed them into the office.

Most people seek public office only for the paraphernalia of the office and not because they desire to make any meaning and sustainable impact.

I have been part of the quest to rescue the Niger Delta region. Unfortunately, my findings are damning and yet dangerous. Call me a coward? Yes! Sometimes, you don’t have to fight to be a man. Even Jesus at some points had to run away from the trouble to come because it was not his time.

Let’s get to the real issues of this treatise.

The insecurity in the nation did not evolve overnight. It was an orchestrated plot dating back to 2010 when I stumbled on a detailed document on how a group of religious extremists had plotted to capture some villages, communities, towns and even States which they claimed belonged to them.

The document revealed that some of the fighters were trained outside the country and when they returned, they were aided by some government officials whom they also named.

It is more of a religious war which is laced with the coat of politics.

Sadly, my efforts to get the authorities to pick up the man in question who mistakenly left the document in my Guest house failed due to lack of political will by those concerned. Of course, I had to move on.

The recent multiple attacks on our Power Plants, Trains and Railway stations could have been averted if those responsible were proactive. We have been dealing with security issues for several years now, so it is not unimaginable that these bandits and insurgents could shift their focus from the communities to the cities and to essential infrastructure. This Government has no doubt made inroads in developing critical infrastructure but like I wrote in one of my articles, “what is infrastructure without security?”

It is even more disheartening to learn that the Minister for Transportation who has helped the APC Federal Government develop the Rail sector had made requests for funding for security of the Railways but his efforts were grounded to a halt by some of the shenanigans who parade as the “owners, movers and shakers” of the Buhari led Administration. Is this unusual? Of course not. I had earlier stated here how those who constitute themselves as the cabal in the corridors of power become a clog in the wheel of progress of any and every government. It’s got nothing to do with the age and intelligence of the President or Governor, as the case may be. They have perfected the act of hijacking the President or the Governor based on what they know as the weakest points of the individual.

The much touted rescue of the Niger Delta region through a Forensic Audit has again been kept comatose by this set of people. Till date, there is yet to be a substantive Board for the Administration of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.

Those who fought for the liberation of the Commission were forced to torpedo the mandate with threats to their jobs. It is a clear case of “if you can’t beat them, you join them.” Who has ever resigned on grounds of perceived sabotage except where they are fired from their positions?

While I do not make excuses for the President, it is also pathetic the situation he finds himself in as he is a trained soldier who is loyal to friendship and by extension, family. The transformation from a Military Officer to a democrat is never an easy transition.

With the recent unfortunate events in the Railway sector ought to have consumed some persons who were part of the sabotage. Who is responsible for the delay in the approval for security funding for the Trains and Railways? Nigerians ought to be calling them out right now. Instead, we are busy casting aspersions on the President, sermonizing the unfortunate incidents while letting the powerful culprits escape the hammer.

What we fear has gradually come upon us. “Until we collectively wage war against the activities of insider moles in government, we sure would continue to read Press Releases that have no solution to our security challenges.” The simple but hard truth is that those who come from a particular section of the country, no matter how highly placed, will remain subservient in the hands of the ‘superior’ citizens of our nation.

Enough of this bloodletting! It’s about time we the Nigerian people changed the face and structure of governance.

Ndukwe is the President of Citizens Quest For Truth Initiative, and a Niger Delta-based Publisher and social and Political Analyst