- Managing Director, ENL Consortium, Mr. Mark Walsh (left), Chairman, Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN), Princess Vicky Haastrup, and Commander, Apapa Special Area Command, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Udotong Noah, when the NDLEA team visited Haastrup in Apapa, Lagos last weekend
By Anthony Nwachukwu
The Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN) has assured the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) of its support in the fight against importation and use of illicit drugs in the country.
STOAN Chairman, Princess Vicky Haastrup, gave the assurance last Friday when the NDLEA Commander, Apapa Special Area Command, Udotong Noah, paid her a courtesy call.
Stating that drug abuse in the country was becoming increasingly worrisome, especially among youths, the STOAN chairman charged all well-meaning stakeholders to support NDLEA’s effort to curtail illicit production, importation, exportation, sale and trafficking of psychoactive substances.
Haastrup particularly commended the Apapa Special Area Command for its vigilance at the nation’s seaports to ensure that illicit drugs imported by unscrupulous elements do not find way into the society.
She advocated further enlightenment of port users, truck drivers and motorboys on the dangers of drug and substance abuse, which she said has ruined many lives and led to catastrophic effects in many homes.
According to her, “the task of making Nigeria drug-free is the responsibility of all Nigerians. NDLEA is doing a lot of work to stop the importation and exportation of illicit drugs in Nigeria.
“The agency has also done very well to curtail the abuse of drugs by Nigerians, especially the youths. All of us, both at the corporate and individual levels, must therefore join hands with NDLEA to put a decisive end to this dangerous menace.
“The NDLEA Apapa Special Area Command particularly deserves commendation for its commitment to the anti-drug war. I want to assure you that all terminal operators will continue to support you and the Nigeria Customs Service to intercept illicit importation into Nigeria.
“We will not allow unscrupulous elements to use our ports as gateways for their illicit trade.”
On his part, Udotong said his visit to the association was to solicit the support of terminal operators in fighting illicit drug importation and abuse around the ports.
