When Was NDLEA Established; Who Established NDLEA?
This is a guide to the establishment of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency in Nigeria. You’ll learn about the history of NDLEA, which Includes when the agency was established, who found It, and the purpose of its creation.
READ ALSO: What Is The Full Meaning Of NDLEA And Their Functions
When Was The NDLEA Established In Nigeria?
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) was established on December 29, 1989, in Nigeria. This agency was created through Decree No. 48, which aimed to battle the increasing drug trafficking and abuse issues in the country.
The NDLEA operates independently from other law enforcement bodies and is responsible for enforcing laws against the cultivation, processing, and trafficking of illicit drugs.
Its formation was part of Nigeria’s commitment to international drug control efforts, particularly in response to the 1988 UN Convention against illicit drug trafficking.
Who Founded The NDLEA In Nigeria?
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Nigeria was not founded by a single individual but was established by the Nigerian government through Decree No. 48 on December 29, 1989. This decree was later incorporated into the NDLEA Act, which defines the agency’s purpose, structure, and powers.
READ ALSO:List Of NDLEA Chairmen In Nigeria (1990-Present)
What Is The History Of The NDLEA?
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) was created by the Nigerian government through Decree Number 48 in 1989, which later became an official act of parliament.
The main goal of the agency is to stop the growing, making, selling, exporting, and trafficking of illegal drugs in Nigeria. It was established to fight the growing problems of drug abuse and trafficking in the country.
Before the NDLEA was formed, cannabis (locally known as marijuana) was brought into Nigeria by foreigners and started to be grown widely.
By the late 1980s, Nigeria had become one of the largest cannabis-growing countries in Africa, with over 8% of the population using the drug. This rise in drug use and trafficking led the government to take serious action, which resulted in the creation of the NDLEA.
Since its creation, the NDLEA has been actively working to eliminate illegal drug trafficking and drug abuse in Nigeria.
Its mission includes going after drug lords, traffickers, and even organizations involved in laundering money from the drug trade. Over the years, the agency has made notable progress in fighting drug problems in the country.
For instance, between 2006 and mid-2008, the NDLEA arrested over 12,663 suspected drug dealers and confiscated more than 418.8 metric tonnes of various illegal drugs.
In 2009, one of its major busts involved seizing 6.5 tonnes of marijuana from an elderly man in Ogun State who claimed to be 114 years old.
In 2008, Nigeria was praised by the United States for making progress in anti-drug operations and cooperating on drug-related and money laundering cases.
Despite its achievements, the NDLEA has also had its challenges. One major issue was corruption within the agency. In 2005, the then-chairman, Bello Lafiaji, was removed from his position by President Olusegun Obasanjo due to allegations of corruption.
Lafiaji was later convicted of conspiracy and the illegal use of funds seized from a drug suspect, though his conviction was overturned on appeal in 2011.
In recent years, the NDLEA has partnered with international organizations, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), to further combat drug-related issues.
According to a 2021 UNODC report, 14.4% of Nigerians are currently involved in drug abuse, to show the ongoing challenges the NDLEA faces.
