Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has called for stronger legislation to tackle drug-related crimes, stressing that weak and lenient laws are fueling the rise in criminal activities linked to drug abuse across Nigeria.
Otti made the call while hosting the leadership of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Umuahia, where he emphasized that drug cartels must be dismantled and offenders given stiffer punishments to deter others.
The governor, who pledged his administration’s full support to the NDLEA, noted that drug abuse has become a root cause of violent crimes, insecurity, and social decay, and must be treated as a national emergency.
As part of his intervention, Otti approved the immediate release of two brand new vehicles to the NDLEA Abia Command to boost its operations. He also directed that all grounded operational vehicles of the agency in the state be repaired without delay.
The NDLEA team commended the governor for his swift response and assured that the support would significantly enhance their capacity in the fight against drug trafficking and abuse in Abia State.