LAFIAJI: TOAST FOR A DRUG CZAR

Lagos

Has it not been said already, which seems indisputable, that some are borne
great, some achieve greatness while some have greatness bequeathed on them.
But the personage at this locus-in-quoi is an embodiment of all the
aforementioned variables.

Firstly he was born great, he moved to achieve greatness because he was
anointed to be, and early in life he believed that heaven helps those who
help them selves despite having greatness entrusted on him.

Suffice it therefore to state here that birth days or celebration of
achievements like Thomas A. Edison wrote "everything comes to him who
hustles while he waits" if not for the commemoration of attainments, feats
and other concomitants of excellence becomes insipid and a robust waste of
resources.

Legendary, zik of Africa, it was, in his book the Renascent African held to
be self evident that "when the renascent African has cultivated spiritual
balance regenerated his society, planned his society economically and has
attained mental emancipation, his political status can not be in doubt, it
is from within that the element of national greatness springs".

The foregoing becomes imperative most especially as the indefatigable
crusader and chief prosecutor of the drug war in Nigeria, Alhaji Bello
Lafiaji marks his 52 birthday anniversary next week.

When the history of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, will be
told to the unborn and indeed future generations, the one sure name that
will attract a large number of fans will be Lafiaji and the reasons are
illuminating.

Immediately he assumed duties in October 2000, he made it clear that his
mandate and vision, will be both tactical and strategic, which will be
evident in the certification of Nigeria by the end of November 2000 and the
molding of an efficient agency with impeccable intelligence gathering
capacity, operational effectiveness and administrative proficiency. The
accomplishment of the above vision which is now history was overwhelming.

No sooner he settled down to work than he re-organised the agency, started a
bilateral relationship with the United States, United Kingdom, South Africa
and resuscitated the USDEA/INDLEA operations. He commenced the training at
the NDLEA Academy, Jos, with a batch of 250 graduate cadet officers and the
re-activation of the academy and made the UNDCP accede to as well as funding
the conversion of the academy into a regional training center for Africa.

Lafiaji streamlined the agency into an efficient, result oriented
enforcement out fit. He created opportunities for and encouraged larger
media accessibility to the agency and it's activities. He recently converted
the hitherto zonal commands to state cornmands for efficiency and
administrative convenience.

The drug czar successfully harmonised staff placement and appointment as
well as promotion which have been pending over the years.

In December 2002, he organised a merit award ceremony where past chairmen of
the agency, deserving officers, stake holders in the drug war including Vice
President Atiku Abubakar were all honoured. There was a post humous award
for the fallen officers for their gallantry without leaving out the late
former minister of justice and Atorney-General, Chief Bola Ige, SAN.

Lafiaji also built a hall of fame immortalising those officers who paid the
supreme sacrifice in the line of duties.

Lafiaji was born on the February 2, 1952 in Katsina where he enrolled and
passed both the first school leaving certificate examination and the
secondary education respectively between 1960/67 and 1968/72.

Bello from his prime days in his country home Katsina was prepared to face
odds with a will that knew no defeat. He was to equip himself in furtherance
with the basic law enforcement/security intelligence training at the Police
College, Ikeja, in 1973 and the State Security Training School, Lagos in
1974. He had advanced security intelligence training in Egypt and the USA in
1975 and 1978 respectively.

Before his appointment as NDLEA boss, he had held various appointments. They
include deputy officer in charge Abuja SSS command, first officer in charge,
Ajaokuta SSS Command, Director, SSS for Katsina, Kaduna, Kano and Borno
Commands as well as the national director of operations and later training.
He was at verious times member board of NAFDAC, member international
narcotic enforcement officers associations and member international
association of chiefs of police among others.

Lafiaji has published many literal works on intelligence and national
security, and appraisal of the role of the state security services, the
quest for Nigeria's permanent seat at the United Security Council, prospects
and implications, strategy for the protection of Nigeria's oil resources and
threats to Nigeria's internal security.