NDLEA records 69% drop in drug seizures at Lagos airport in 2yrs 

…as SAHCO boosts NDLEA operations with medical equipment

Usman Ali Wadar, Commander of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Strategic Command of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has disclosed that between the years 2022 and 2024, the agency has recorded a 69 per cent drop in several drugs seized at the Lagos airport.

According to Wadar, in 2022 about 23 tonnes of drugs were seized at the Lagos airport but the numbers have significantly reduced to seven tonnes, which represents a 69 per cent drop in the number of seizures.

The commander who disclosed this during the donation of medical equipment by Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc (SAHCO) to the agency, attributed the drop in seizures to efforts by NDLEA in fighting drug trafficking across Nigeria airports.

“In 2018, more than 14 million Nigerians tested for drugs. When I came on board, I told my team that we needed to stop the menace. Today we are stopping at nothing to ensure we have aa drug-freeNigeria. This is why since 2022, the number of drugs seized at Lagos airport alone has drastically reduced from 23 tonnes to seven tonnes,” he said.

The Commander said he has enjoyed a lot of cooperation from stakeholders particularly SAHCOL, noting that the medical equipment donated by the handling agency would go a long way to support the work NDLEA is doing in Nigeria.

“The small clinic we have is to cater for suspects in our custody. Even though these people have committed offences, they also have the right to fair treatment and care. This is why we decided to have the clinics. Some suspects with injected drugs are unable to excrete them.

“The first time a man was arrested here during my tenure; a quick test had to be run on him and we discovered he has high sugar level and we had to administer some drugs to stabilize him and ensured he ate the right food while he was in our custody,” the Commander said.

Adenike Aboderin, Managing Director/CEO of Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) who was represented by Boma Ukwunna- ED, Cargo Services thanked that command for its efforts in ensuring cargo areas at the airport are drug-free.

“We know the menace of drugs and what we have to contend with. We also understand its impact on society and our youths. I know what the commander and his team have put in place. The number of NDLEA staff has increased in our warehouses. This is to ensure our cargo houses are drug-free.

“The MD being a mother and a citizen of Nigeria has also visited the NDLEA and has gotten back to the organiqation on what we have to do to boost the operations of NDLEA and to ensure its vision continue to thrive. As a company, we are completely behind you. Looking at the business you do, what we have is just a token to support what you do here,” Ukwunna said.

Some of the equipment donated by SAHCO include an automated haematology analyser, incubator, centrifuge machine, weighing scale, poison box, liquid profile meter and ambu bags amongst others.