CHAPTER 1----INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The agency vested with the responsibility of eradicating the drug war in Nigeria is the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) .The drug war has constituted a major challenge in Nigeria following the increasing number of cases of drug convicted case globally coming from Nigeria. The agency’s fight is to eliminate the growing, processing, manufacturing, selling, exporting and trafficking of hard drugs. Consequently, the agency has spread its net to combat the menace through establishing its presence in seaports, airports and the countrys borders. The agency is also targeting the leaders of drug business and money launderers. NDLEA war centers on the arrest, investigation and the prosecution of offenses related to drug trafficking. In other cases they are vested with the responsibility of destroying hard drugs, plants, and related substances and collaborating with international drug units to enforce the eradication of the menace. Nigeria constitutes a major destination of drug trafficking in Africa and continues to expand its network worldwide. They control the drug market in sub-Sahara Africa and maintain distribution from different locations all over the world. The huge deal on heroin in the United State comes from Nigeria and smuggling activities of cocaine from America to Europe and Africa are carried out by Nigerians. They are also involved in the cultivation and exportation of marijuana from Nigeria to other countries in West Africa and Europe. Consequently, the rate of drug trafficking in Nigeria requires decisive actions to eliminate the menace. A study on frequent arrest of drug trafficking in British airports shows that 65 percent of the heroin seizures of 50 grams or more came from Nigeria, which constituted a transit route for 20 percent of all heroines coming from the region of Southwest Asia. The study also shows that 20 percent of this hard drug cases in Britain came via Nigerian ships. This development has resulted in a huge number of arrests in foreign countries involving Nigerians and many have been jailed for the crime. The study seek to appraise Law Enforcement and Drug control in Nigeria; Evaluative study of the National Drug Enforcement Agency. (A case study of NDLEA Abuja).
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The war against drug trafficking in Nigeria has attracted the concern of the federal government as well as various stakeholders in the private sector. This is due to the increasing level of drug trafficking in the country. The reports of drug trafficking and drug convicted cases in foreign countries reveals that a huge percentage are Nigerians and many have been jailed for the crime. The Nigerian law enforcement agency was set up and vested with the responsibility to arrest, investigate and prosecute of offenses related to drug trafficking. In other cases, they are vested with the responsibility of destroying hard drugs, plants, and related substances and collaborating with international drug units to enforce the eradication of the menace. However, despite the effort of the agency to eradicate the menace, the level of drug trafficking has been on the increase. There have been some allegations of corruption of non -conviction of high level drug traffickers, lack of appropriate technologies, poor funding and trainings. Other identified issue concerns the lack of clear policy guideline. Consequently, despite the antinarcotic war the Nigerian borders remains porous enabling increasing influx of drugs and drug traffickers. It is important at this point to evaluate the performance of the agency with the view to determining the challenges confronting the agency in other to proffer appropriate recommendation and solution. Therefore, the problem confronting the study is to appraise Law Enforcement and Drug control in Nigeria; Evaluative study of the National Drug Enforcement Agency. (A case study of NDLEA Abuja).
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The fundamental objective of the study is to appraise Law Enforcement and Drug control in Nigeria; Evaluative study of the National Drug Enforcement Agency. (A case study of NDLEA Abuja).
The specific objectives of the study include;
- To determine the relevance of NDLEA in Nigeria.
- To appraise How effective is the NDLEA in drug control in Nigeria.
- To determine the challenges faced by the NDLEA in drug control in Nigeria.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
i. What is the relevance of NDLEA in Nigeria?
ii. How effective is the NDLEA in drug control in Nigeria?
iii. What are the challenges faced by the NDLEA in drug control in Nigeria?
1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
Ho1: There is no significant impact of NDLEA on drug control in Nigeria.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The study shall determine the performance and challenges of the National Drug Enforcement Agency with the view to recommending appropriate measures to combat the menace.
1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The study focuses on the appraisal of Law Enforcement and Drug control in Nigeria; Evaluative study of the National Drug Enforcement Agency. (A case study of NDLEA Abuja).
1.8 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The study was confronted with logistics and geographical factors.
1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS
NDLEA DEFINED
The agency vested with the responsibility of eradicating the drug war in Nigeria is the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). The agencys fight is to eliminate the growing, processing, manufacturing, selling, exporting and trafficking of hard drugs.
ICT DEFINED
This is referred to as information telecommunication technologies which provide access to information through telecommunications. Communication technologies such as Internet, wireless networks, cell phones, and other communication mediums.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
This is defined as Progress in an economy or the increase in the standard of living of the people, or the adoption of new technology for the development of the economy.
