•••AS FCT MONARCH SUPPORTS DRUG TESTS FOR INTENDING COUPLES
The Ona of Abaji and Chairman, Federal Capital Territory, FCT Council of Chiefs, Abuja, Alhaji Adamu Baba Yunusa, has conferred on the Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), the title of Santuraki of Abaji Kingdom.
According to the Ona of Abaji, before Marwa’s assumption of office, as the NDLEA boss, the drug menace in Nigeria had become a huge problem ravaging many young men and women including couples who were supposed to be enjoying their marital lives.
A statement from the Director, Media, and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi on Friday, the Royal father commended the chairmanship of the NDLEA, saying that Marwa has brought some succor to the polity.
“Your coming on board as the head of NDLEA has brought some succor.” He said.
“As a mark of honor and to encourage the NDLEA boss, the monarch conferred on him the chieftaincy title of Santuraki of Abaji Kingdom.” The statement said.
He promised to promote the drug integrity test advocacy of the Agency in addition to other ongoing drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.
The Royal father made the promise to the Chief Imam of Abaji and his Council of Chiefs when the Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) paid him a War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy visit.
He called for the immediate implementation of a drug integrity test policy for intending couples.
He said the couples should be given certificates of fitness before being joined in holy matrimony.
Speaking at the request of the Royal father, Marwa congratulated the monarch on his 25th anniversary on the throne and on upholding the tradition and culture of his kingdom.
He commended the royal father for his unflinching support for NDLEA and the fight against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the country
“The traditional institution is a very important stakeholder because the traditional institution exists across every part of our society; to the grassroots
“It is for this reason, we would like to appeal to His Royal Highness who already has been at the forefront of tackling drug abuse, to continue and intensify these efforts to set up a WADA committee in Abaji kingdom that will report directly to him and down to the small communities. In the communities, you all know those selling drugs and those families and youths that need help.
“I would like to also appeal that due to increasing cases of women suffering from domestic violence fuelled by drug abuse by their husbands and vice versa, we embrace drug tests for intending couples the same way they do HIV/AIDS and genotype tests even though no laws are making that compulsory.
“This is why we say both husband and wife should also show drug-free certificates before being joined and if any of them tests positive, he or she can be taken for treatment before the wedding is done to avoid unpleasant incidents that we see in recent times,” Marwa said.
