The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) clarified
that music sensation Azeez Fashola,
popularly known as Naira Marley, is not an
official ambassador of the anti-drug agency, despite his recent involvement in
their drug abuse awareness campaign. The NDLEA’s collaboration with Naira
Marley is intended to leverage his influence and platforms to produce content
that dissuades his extensive following and Nigerian youth from engaging in
substance abuse.
Femi Babafemi, the Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA,
issued a statement on Saturday to address the matter. According to reports from
The PUNCH, Naira Marley and his team visited the NDLEA’s National Headquarters
in Abuja on August 17, 2023, expressing their willingness to contribute to the
fight against drug abuse in the country.
The NDLEA spokesperson emphasized the necessity for
clarification due to ongoing misinterpretations, particularly on online
platforms. Some reports wrongly indicated that Naira Marley had been appointed
as an NDLEA Ambassador. This, the NDLEA refutes, asserting that the visit was
about urging Naira Marley to employ his considerable platform (which boasts
over seven million followers, a significant portion of those involved in drug
abuse in Nigeria) to communicate messages opposing substance abuse, rather than
promoting or glorifying it.
The NDLEA’s decision aligns with its comprehensive approach
to combating drug abuse and conforms to international best practices. This
strategy also mirrors the theme for the current year’s World Drug Day:
“People First: Stop Stigma and Discrimination, Strengthen
Prevention.” The NDLEA queries whether it is preferable to reject someone
like Naira Marley, who has a substantial following and who, after meaningful
counseling, alters his stance on substance abuse, or whether it’s better to
offer support and grant an opportunity for him to steer his followers away from
harmful habits.
In essence, the NDLEA believes that it is more effective to
have a reformed individual from within the same circle advocating against drug
abuse. Rather than turning a blind eye to his change of perspective, the agency
encourages Naira Marley’s transformation and challenges him to uphold his
public commitment against substance abuse, as conveyed in his video message to
his followers. This approach is intended to safeguard the wellbeing of Nigerian
youths and maintain a unified front against drug abuse.
