The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has enlisted Azeez Fashola, a.k.a Naira Marley, for its War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy campaign.
NDLEA’s director of media and advocacy, Femi Babafemi made this known on Thursday via a post on X, formerly Twitter, sharing photos of Naira Marley and members of his team with the chairman of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) during the singer’s visit to the agency’s national headquarters.
See who’s on board @ndlea_nigeria War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy campaign; it’s your fav, Naira Marley. Watch out for the video of his message to Marlians and Nigerian youths here tomorrow pic.twitter.com/nx4r0arRBu
— Femi Babafemi (@FemiBabafemi) August 17, 2023
In a video shared on the agency’s X page, Naira Marley declared support for the war against drug abuse.
“I would like to urge my fans, the marlians and all the Nigerian youths to stop doing drugs because it’s not good for your well-being,” he said.
“Let us stop substance abuse in any form. I have keyed into this campaign to support NDLEA to stop drugs in the streets.”
In a statement on Saturday, Babafemi explained that NDLEA’s partnership with Naira Marley “is to encourage him to use his skills and platforms to put out content that will discourage millions of his followers and Nigerian youths from substance abuse.”
The statement added: “The decision by the agency to encourage Naira Marley with over seven million followers, half the population of those who abuse drugs in Nigeria, use his platform to share anti-substance abuse messages as against using same to promote and glamourize drug abuse with the dire consequence of misleading millions of Nigerian youths into their peril, is to create a balance between our drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.
“This is also in line with the agency’s whole society approach to the fight against drug abuse, and in tune with global best practices as well as the theme for this year’s World Drug Day: ‘People First: Stop Stigma and Discrimination, Strengthen Prevention.'”
In an interview with Saturday PUNCH, the Director also noted that the agency won’t fail to arrest and prosecute the singer if he is found to be in possession of hard drugs irrespective of the partnership.
“Last year, we arrested some of his artists (Zinoleesky and Mohbad). That is to show that we are not closing our eyes. If the same Naira Marley is caught with illicit substances tomorrow, he will face sanctions,” Babafemi assured.
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