By Adedapo Adesanya
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA ) has reshuffled some of its directors and created a new directorate to enhance efficiency and strengthen its operations.
This was disclosed in a statement from the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, on Tuesday.
He said that the reshuffling exercise was announced by the NDLEA’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr Buba Marwa, at a meeting with directors at the agency’s headquarters in the national capital on Monday.
The statement quoted Mr Marwa as saying that the new movement was to propel the agency to greater achievements.
“In the new changes which take effect from May 11, the former Director of Administration and Establishment, Mr Ezekiel Epeso, moves to Technical Services as Director in charge.
“The former Head of Internal Affairs, Mr Ibrahim Sani, becomes the new Director of Administration and Establishment; while Mr Pius Gamde, an Assistant Director, Legal Services, is now the Director of Internal Affairs and Provost Marshal of the agency.
“The former Director of Technical Services, Mr Ahmed Ninigi has now been moved to a newly created directorate as Commander, Strike Force and Director, Special Duties,” the statement read.
The NDLEA boss, according to the statement, said the various tactical and Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) teams across the commands had been merged and renamed Strike Force, which will now function under the new directorate headed by Mr Ninigi.
“NDLEA is now repositioned to effectively take on the drug cartels and syndicates operating in any part of the country.
“We have to target the cartels and not only the traffickers; we have to put more bite,” Mr Marwa was further quoted as saying in the statement.
The reshuffling is part of plans by Mr Marwa to tackle drug abuse endemic in Nigeria, a key goal set for the NDLEA by President Muhammadu Buhari after his appointment in January.
As a close ally of the President, Mr Marwa had worked as Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee for the Elimination of Drug Abuse (PACEDA) between 2018 and December 2020, along with others to develop a blueprint on how to end drug abuse in Nigeria.
Modupe Gbadeyanka