Man of the Year Award: NDLEA’s operatives ‘ll take the glory, says Marwa

THOMAS IMONIKHE

 

 

Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has extolled the exemplary performance of officers, men and women of the agency promising to dedicate to them, the Champion Newspapers’ 2021 Man of the Year Award conferred on him

 

He said the affected personnel have not only done the nation proud but by dint of hard work and patriotism become achievers using the same equipment that were at their disposal before his appointment 15 months ago.

 

Marwa was receiving the award nomination letter from the Group Managing Director and Editor-in-chief of Champion Newspapers, Dr. Mrs. Nwadiuto Iheakanwa at the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.

 

According to the former military administrator of Borno and Lagos states: “We are extremely delighted to receive the award letter today. Thank you for the award of Man of the Year. Clearly, this is an award that I will gladly receive on behalf of the officers, men and women of the NDLEA who have been the actual people that have propelled the successes and achievements in the last 15 months that I have been in office

 

“It’s the same people using the same type of equipment that suddenly have become achievers. I am standing on their shoulders, so I am the one seen up there but these are the work force and this type of award we will dedicate to them.

 

Continuing, an apparently elated Chairman declared, “We appreciate this award very much indeed, I do look forward to the event itself”.

 

Earlier, Mrs. Iheakanwa while presenting the letter highlighted the numerous achievements recorded by Marwa and the agency since assuming office last year adding that his emergence as Champion Newspapers’ Man of the Year Award for 2021 was the outcome of a very rigorous scrutiny of candidates drawn from all sectors of the economy by the Board of Editors and a team of credible independent assessors.

 

She said: “Your choice was a unanimous decision because of the monumental achievements you have made in the NDLEA and Nigerians are very proud of you. Your agency stopped the influx of Crystal meth (a common name for Crystal methamphetamine a strong and highly addictive drug that  affects the central nervous system) when it was being smuggled into the country during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown which could have wiped out some of them and rendered many others useless.

 

“The fact that you also exposed the famous cocaine deal involving the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Abba Kyari and others is an indication that the award was justified in the first instance and that there are no longer sacred cows in the fight against hard drugs and narcotic substances”.

 

Asserting that there has been a considerable reduction in the trafficking of hard drugs and consumption in the country as a result of the relentless efforts of the current leadership of the agency and the workforce, the Champion boss said people now know that there are serious consequences for their nefarious activities.

 

“It takes a general and great man like you to do this kind of sensitive job because a normal person would have been fidgeting. You are sitting on a very hot seat at a time the country is close to turmoil in terms of security challenges. Believe it or not, hard drugs and criminality go together.

 

“So you are fighting an hydra headed monster and doing a wonderful job. The rehabilitation of some of our young ones who have gone astray to  take hard drugs is also very commendable because there is nothing that destroys a society than a raging fire habit forming drugs.

 

“When a child gets up and kill his mother or any other person as it were because of what he has consumed is very worrisome and that’s why we are very happy and have come to present the Award letter to you. We want to celebrate positivity and the fact

Nigeria’s rating on the use of hard drugs has improved when compared with what it used to be”, Dr. Nwadiuto told the former envoy to South Africa.

 

She urged the nominee to make it a point of duty to attend the award ceremony slated for Friday June 3 at the Convention Centre of Eko Hotel and Suites on Victoria Island Lagos.

Marwa also presented copies of the agency’s publication titled, NDLEA today to the GMD, Champion Newspapers.

NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) (middle) flanked by GMD, Champion Newspapers, Dr. Mrs. Nwadiuto Iheakanwa (second right), Director. Media/Advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi (right), General Manager Publications Champion Newspapers, Mr. Thomas Imonikhe (second left) and Military Assistant to Gen. Marwa, Lt. Col. Murtala Aminu during a visit by Champion Newspapers management team to NDLEA Abuja headquarters on Tuesday… PHOTO: FRANCIS OJO.

 

 

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