Published By Olukayode Idowu
The National Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) partners Kannywood in the anti-drug crusade. The Chairman of the agency, General Marwa made this known during an interactive session held by the stakeholders of Kannywood in Kano State.
The NDLEA Chairman, during his 3-day official visit to Kano State, reiterated efforts to reposition the agency to be more functional, effective, and responsive to the new mandate given to it by the President and Commander-In-Chief to eradicate illicit drugs from all nooks and crannies of Nigeria. He said his agency has embarked on advocacy visits to states of the federation to interact with relevant stakeholders and opinion leaders in order to siphon diverse ideas on modalities for surmounting challenges militating against effective mitigation of the scourge.
Marwa disclosed that in every six persons, one is a drug addict and they are between the ages of 15 years and 64 years in Kano State, he said has close to two million drug users abusing tramadol, codeine, and other cough syrups, rather than cannabis.
Mr. Marwa said that his agency has successfully seized over two million kilograms of assorted drugs, estimated at billions of Naira since he assumed leadership of the agency in January this year.
Sealing the partnership collaboration, Mr. Marwa ensured that the main mission is to formally introduce his agency to the movie stakeholders, in order to ensure the two parties ensured mandates set up by President Muhammadu Buhari are in top gear towards achieving war against drug abuse. Mr. Marwa assured the industry stakeholders that NDLEA is ready to work hand in hand with stakeholders.
Earlier, the National President, Motion Picture Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MOPPAN), Dr. Ahmad Muhammad Sarari informed the session that Kannywood is the second largest employer of labor after agriculture in northern Nigeria. He said that the entertainment industry in northern Nigeria (Kannywood) is in existence two years before Nollywood with over 17 guilds and associations affiliated to MOPPAN spread across the 19 states of the north and Abuja.
He assured Mr. Marwa MOPPAN’s readiness to collaborate with NDLEA in curbing out the drug menace in society.
Dr. Sarari said that although Kano is one of the most populous states that harbor youths from states of the federation, Kannywood, through MOPPAN has a lined up activities to contribute to the crusade.
All other speakers at the event assured the NDLEA boss of the Hausa movie industry’s readiness to contribute its quota in curbing out the menace facing the society, more especially in Kano state and the nation as a whole.
The meeting, which was held at the main conference auditorium of Kannywood TV house in Kano, had in attendance the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of National Open University, Professor Abdallah Uba Adamu, past presidents of MOPPAN, current national and states executive of MOPPAN, and top actors and producers in Kannywood, which include Hamisu Lamido Iyantama, Ali Nuhu, Sadiq Sani Sadiq, Tijjani Asase, Abubakar Bashir Mai Shadda and hosts of others.