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.