14 January 2008
Abuja — The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ahmadu Giade said at the weekend that Cannabis otherwise known as Indian hemp is the biggest drug challenge in the country and the African continent.
Giade made the declaration when the Agency publicly destroyed a total of 101,652.24 kilogrammes of narcotics which is about 102 metric tonnes in Anambra, Delta and Edo States .
Edo State Command where 75,896 kilogrammes of hard drugs were destroyed has the largest quantity. This is followed by Delta State and Anambra State Commands where 22,700 kilogrammes and 3,056.24 kilogrammes of narcotics were set ablaze. The public destruction is part of the Agency's effort to provide a drug free society for all.
Giade, decried the dangers of hard drugs to humanity and stressed that the destruction exercises is to spite drug barons and also to demonstrate the superiority of law enforcement agents over illicit drug dealers.
According to Giade "the threat of narcotic drugs is palpable. It is difficult to ignore this peril starring at us in the face. Cannabis control constitutes the biggest drug challenge in Nigeria and Africa . This is because it grows effortlessly in the country. This drug has the propensity to destroy our society but we equally have the capacity to subdue it".
Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State in his goodwill message said that it is sad that some indigenes of the State are getting involved in the illicit drug trade when they are highly respected as good business men and women.
"Anambra citizen has no business with illicit drugs and I assure you that the State will partner with the NDLEA to ensure that Anambra State and by implication the entire country is completely drug free"he said.
Giade pointed out that illegal drug business is a covert affair that makes drug control a very cumbersome task demanding enormous resources, training and dexterity. The NDLEA boss said that no drug baron wants his drugs seized let alone destroyed because they have paid so much to acquire them.
He revealed that the Edo State Command discovered and destroyed 27 hectares of cannabis farmlands within the last ten months. Similarly, in 2007, seventeen Indian hemp farms covering 9. 43 acres were also destroyed in communities within Delta State . This according to him is an indication that cannabis is struggling for space with legitimate food crops in the States.
He lamented the unhealthy development and promised that urgent measures will be taken to right the wrong. The NDLEA will continue to do what it loves doing, which is drug enlightenment campaign, arrest, investigation, prosecution and public destruction of seized and forfeited drugs. No effort will be spared in sustaining this feat.
It will be recalled that Edo State Command destroyed 31,000 kilogrammes of Indian hemp in January 2007. The fact that about 76,000 kilogrammes of cannabis is being destroyed in barely one year after shows that the threat of hard drugs is real and must be tackled with all sense of seriousness.
The events were witnessed by royal fathers, representatives of military and paramilitary organizations, students and other stakeholders.
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What a shame that we are so focussed on eradicating cannabis aka hemp because of the psychoactive properties of parts of the plant.
As an easily grown woody plant, it is an excellent source of biomass for easily-made and environmentally-friendly fuel which could be used for cars, homes and even jet planes.
The seed is one of the most nutritious known to man - it could be produced in abundance and feed millions!
The seed can also be used to make oils and fuels, and for animal-feeds.
The fibre can produce textiles that are stronger and softer than cotton -… [Read Full Text]
To be attacking Cannabis, hemp when it has so many uses, just because of being able to get high. Time to legalise and regulate, as we are not going to stop taking it, as consumers we should have the right to a good product, its not my fault that governments refuse to tax me on my herb.
This whole program stinks of American control on the world, is Aid involved here.
Shame as you have a great land, Dagga/Ganga whatever you call the hemp plant is a good medicine, and valuable for fiber .
I agree with Alun that "Africa… [Read Full Text]
Amadu Giade is a criminal -- a murderer -- who should be removed from office, arrested and shot! Everyone who has investigated cannabis, without vested interest or other bias, has found its use to be free of addiction or other social problems. Clearly, this criminal is only interested in furthering his own power to abuse and control people. Reject this sub-human use of government guns to control people who are free by their very nature.