National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Department of State Services (DSS) have resolved to partner in the fight against drug abuse in Anambra.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that partnership will involve intelligence sharing to strengthen inter-agency collaboration, ensure improved safety and security of lives and property across the state.
NAN also reports that the inter-agency agreement was reached when the new Director of DSS in the state, Mr Chuks Anukposi, paid a courtesy to Mr Charles Onubogu, the NDLEA Commander in the state, in Awka on Wednesday.
Anukposi said that the visit was a familiarisation engagement aimed at strengthening and deepening the existing working relationship between the two agencies in Anambra.
He said: “I am here to familiarise myself with your office, and it is a privilege to be received by you.
“We all know that security is everybody’s business. To succeed as the new state director of DSS, I deemed it necessary to engage stakeholders on ground.
“It is crucial that we share ideas and work together as a team if we are to tackle the growing security challenges in the state,” he said.
Anukposi noted that many criminal activities, such as banditry, armed robbery and kidnapping were closely linked to drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking.
According to him, no single agency can effectively address the security challenges alone.
He stated that sustained collaboration remained the core value of the DSS and a key strategy in tackling emerging security threats.
On his part, the NDLEA commander lauded Anukposi for the visit which aimed to sustain existing partnership between the two agencies.
Onubogu reiterated NDLEA’s commitment to sustained collaboration with DSS and other sister security agencies in the execution of its mandate of combating drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the state.
He acknowledged the critical role of the DSS in providing actionable intelligence, saying that this had significantly supported NDLEA’s operations and contributed to the fight against drug-related crimes and other security challenges in the state.
“We have enjoyed a very cordial and productive working relationship with DSS.
“Your support through timely intelligence sharing has positioned you as a strong and strategic partner in our operations,” Onubogu said.
He expressed the optimism that the partnership would yield greater results, thus leading to the entrenchment of a better society.(NAN)
