By John Ugo
The Nigerian Military School Ex-Boys Association has expressed the willingness of its members to join the ongoing war and advocacy campaigns against the menace of illicit drug trafficking and abuse, especially among Nigerian youths.
They stated this when the group led by their President, Engr. Femi Ikuponiyi paid a courtesy visit to the Chairman/CEO of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Brig Gen. Mohamed Marwa, at its National headquarters in Abuja.
According to a statement by Femi Babafemi, Director, Media & Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, on Saturday, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), also bagged the Daily Asset newspaper’s Public Servant of the year award for 2021.
Ikuponiyi said the visit was to identify with Marwa’s commendable exploits and vision for the NDLEA as an ex-boy and a pride of the NMS family.
He expressed the willingness of the institution’s ex-boys to join the advocacy campaigns to stem and eradicate the menace of use of illicit drugs amongst the Nigerian youths, particularly, in areas of intelligence gathering and reportage.
He commended Marwa and described him as a pacesetter and an exemplary ambassador of the NMS ExBA.
The statement quoted Gen. Marwa as having thanked the NMS Ex-Boys for their visit and offer to support the drug war.
He stressed that there visit was an indication that the key message of the War Against Drug Abuse, launched by President Muhammadu Buhari in June 2021, is fast achieving its target of mobilising every citizen to take ownership of the battle against the drug scourge.
The award which was presented in a well attended event at the Nicon Luxury Hotels Abuja, had Professor Iyorwuese Hagher, a two-time minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the chairman of the occasion.
Speaking on the award and the modalities for selection, the Editor-In- Chief and Publisher of Daily Asset newspaper, Dr. Cletus Akwaya, noted that the selection was painstakingly done.
He said Gen. Marwa was selected out of numerous others in recognition of his enormous contributions to the fight against illicit drugs within one year that he took as the Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
Dr. Akwaya extolled the sterling qualities of Gen. Marwa in all positions he had occupied in the past including, Military Governor of Borno State, Military Administrator, Lagos State and Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa.
He described the successes recorded by Gen. Marwa within one year in office as monumental.
Dr. Akwaya stressed that the arrest of 12,306 drug peddlers, including 7 barons, seizure of 3.4 million kilograms of assorted illicit drugs as well as counselling and rehabilitation of 7,761 drug users within 12 Months remain unparalleled.
The fifth Annual Awards and Lecture had as its theme: “The Media, National Security and 2023 Elections was delivered by the DG, NTA, Mallam Yakubu Ibn Mohammed who was represented at the event.
