Nigeria Content Online

The United States government yesterday removed Nigeria from the major drug list.

According to a statement released by
the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the US President,
Barack Obama, said that this was the first time that Nigeria would be
delisted from the drug majors list since 1991. The anti-narcotics
agency stated that Mr Obama said that Nigeria was a onetime drug
trafficking focal point but that the country had taken a lot of drastic
steps to make counter narcotics a top national security for the
country. He said that international data showed that there was a
strengthening of illegal drug trafficking between Latin America and
West Africa, especially via Brazil and Venezuela, with a considerable
portion of illegal product destined for Europe.

According to the report, Nigeria,
Brazil, and Paraguay were recently removed this year from the list
because they no longer meet the criteria for the list according to US
law. Reacting, Ahmadu Giade, the Chief Executive of the NDLEA, said
that Nigeria had gotten a well deserved honour. He noted that the
removal of Nigeria from the majors drug list was an endorsement of the
collective efforts of the agency to combat drug traffickers with the
aim of having a drug free society. According to him, the honour given
to Nigeria by removing her from the drug list was as a product of
dedication, transparency, hard work, and cordial working relationship
between Nigeria and United States in controlling drug trafficking in
the country.

The NDLEA is happy

“I appreciate President Barack Obama
and Americans for this candid and credible assessment,” he said. “The
removal speaks volumes concerning our impressive scorecard and
determination to address the drug problem. Illicit trade in narcotics
transcends national boundaries. Our foreign collaborators also have a
way of monitoring most assiduous efforts. All exit entry points will
remain invincible to drug criminals through effective drug
interdiction.” The NDLEA boss also thanked President Goodluck Jonathan
for his anti-drug policies, and other stakeholders for their
unrelenting efforts. He promised that no drug baron or major drug
trafficker would go unpunished in the country, adding that NDLEA was
one of the best anti-drugs agencies in Africa and that the agency
is prepared to make sacrifices to sustain and improve on its drug
control performance “Our level of professionalism shall be further
consolidated on the tripod of transparency, anti-corruption and respect
for the rule of law,” he said. “It is a call to duty that demands
higher commitment on our part. We shall continue to partner with the
United States and other stakeholders. No stone will be left unturned in
our quest for a drug free society.”

According to the agency, the 20 countries on the list this year are
Afghanistan, The Bahamas, Bolivia, Burma, Colombia, Costa Rica,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India,
Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Peru and Venezuela.
A major drug-transit country is defined as a significant direct source
of illicit narcotic or psychotropic drugs or other controlled
substances significantly affecting the United States; or a country
through which such drugs or substances are transported.