The Emir of Ilorin and Chairman Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari CFR, Wednesday assured the new commandant of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) in the state, Mr Muhammed Ibrahim, of his readiness to support and partner the agency to achieve its mission.
Sulu-Gambari spoke when the NDLEA boss paid his courtesy visit at his palace where he also sought for royal blessings from the monarch. He stressed that “My doors would remain opened to the NDLEA.
“You have already received my blessings. I assure you that I will always listen to you and open my door for you when you come knocking.”
The monarch further stressed that,“We want the best for Kwara and so we will always cooperate with you. Welcome to the state of harmony.”
Earlier in remarks, the new NDLEA helmsman, Mr Muhammed Ibrahim, had solicited the support of traditional institutions to curb drug menace in the state.
Ibrahim urged the Emir to pray for him and his team as they plan to completely eliminate use of substances in Kwara.
According to him, “It is a great pleasure to be here this afternoon to receive royal blessing from the Emir. I am not here to just come and see the Emir, rather to receive his blessings.
“Despite courtesy calls from different angles, I have refused to attend to other persons until I receive the royal blessing from the Emir.
Your royal highness, I am here to tell you that one of your subject is here to work. I need your your blessings to carry on.”
The commandant also urged the royal father to cooperate and support the NDLEA on its bid to end drug abuse in all parts of the state, saying that the Agency cannot do it alone.
Ibrahim further revealed that NDLEA record show that drug use prevalence rate in Kwara in the last one year is 14 per cent, which demands urgent attention.
He however assured that the Kwara command has able men and officers that would help to curb the activities of drug supply in the state.
He therefore pledged to increase NDLEA patrol activities in all parts of the state and be proactive in team approach.
“We need cooperation, support of royal majesty,other traditional rulers, opinion leaders and leaders that are close to grassroot.
“We need the State Government, individuals that are well to do in the society to end drug menace in the society. NDLEA can’t do it alone,” he said.
Ibrahim also promised to scale up public sensitisation, creating awareness and advocacy to halt drug and substance demand in the state.
The commandant said the agency would employ interaction tactics with people at the grassroots level and as well partner with traditional rulers to tackle drug related offences.
The NDLEA boss therefore disclosed that schools, market places and motor parks would host most of the sensitisation programmes.
