Pubdate: Sun, 08 Jun 2003
Source: Vanguard (Nigeria)
Copyright: 2003 Vanguard.
Contact:  http://www.vanguardngr.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2890
Author: Emma Nnadozie

DEBTS CRIPPLE NATIONAL DRUG LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY 					

ACTIVITIES at the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) are grinding 
to a halt as a result of acute financial crunch facing the agency, 
investigations by Sunday Vanguard has revealed. The corporate offices of 
the agency at Shaw Road, Ikoyi, Lagos has already been plunged into total 
blackout in the last two weeks following the inability of NDLEA to settle 
its electricity bill of N8m.

Worse still, telephone lines to the agency have been cut off with the 
exception of very few key offices who were given the privilege by the 
Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) to receive calls only because 
of a staggering debt of N20m owed NITEL.

Both debts, investigations revealed, were incurred by a para-military 
agency which occupied the premises and when NDLEA eventually took over the 
buildings, it had to incur all the assets and liabilities of the agency.

Aside the stifling debts, staffers of NDLEA are said to be overstretched as 
they are forced to provide virtually all the necessary logistics needed for 
their daily operational duties while certain allowances have been put on 
hold for sometime now. Reliable sources said at present, a paltry monthly 
allocation of N1.9m is given to the NDLEA with over twenty five zonal 
offices in the country for overhead thus making it practically impossible 
for the agency to operate smoothly.

Some concerned workers of the agency who pleaded anonymity said they 
enjoyed good government patronage during the military era more than the 
present democratic dispensation where they are been starved of funds. " 
Nigeria has begun to enjoy the dividends of the country's certification by 
US through the hard work of NDLEA and as such, the agency should be funded 
adequately to enable it pursue its goals. Besides, if foreign countries and 
donor agencies have been assisting NDLEA through aids and grants, it 
behooves on the Federal Government to do even more," one of the workers said.

Though the Chairman of the agency, Alhaji Bello Lafiaji, could not be 
reached for comments as he was said to have traveled out on official 
duties, keen observers of the drug war who spoke to Sunday Vanguard 
expressed concern over the sudden turn of events at the NDLEA.

The agency's spokesman, Mr. Ajuh Ameh Okopi, when contacted told Sunday 
Vanguard that government is doing its best with regards to funding of 
NDLEA. "With regards to funding of the agency, government is doing its best 
giving the economic situation in the country. We are funded like other 
parastatals in the country. That is all I can tell you for now," he said.
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