The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has categorically denied reports suggesting that music sensation Afeez Adeshina Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, has been appointed as an ambassador for the agency.
The NDLEA clarified its engagement with Naira Marley, stating that the purpose is to harness his influence for a vital cause: combatting substance abuse among Nigerian youth.
Naira Marley’s visit to the NDLEA’s National Headquarters in Abuja on August 17, 2023, marked a significant step in his commitment to contribute to the fight against drug abuse within the country.
The agency clarified that while Naira Marley is not an official NDLEA Ambassador, he has shown eagerness to use his talents and platforms to create content that discourages drug abuse, particularly among his numerous followers and fellow Nigerian youths.
The spokesperson for the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, issued a statement to address the widespread misinformation surrounding Naira Marley’s engagement. Babafemi emphasized the importance of accurate understanding, especially in an era of online dissemination of information. He sought to correct the false reports that had claimed Naira Marley had been appointed as an official ambassador for the anti-drug agency.
Babafemi said “this is misleading and absolute falsehood as the pictures of the visit and the short video containing Naira Marley’s advocacy message to his followers were properly captioned and shared by the agency without any suggestion of such appointment.”
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He said “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 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.”
He added that: “This is also in line with the agency’s whole society approach to the fight against drug abuse, and in tune with global best practice as well as the theme for this year’s World Drug Day; People First: Stop Stigma and Discrimination, Strengthen Prevention.
“When an artiste, who professes marijuana is good to seven million followers turns a new leaf after some serious counselling, do we reject him, turn our back to him and allow him continue in his old habit or we accept him, give him a chance so he can reach out to his followers to quit substance abuse.
“In other words, why should we take our anti-drug abuse advocacy messages to schools, churches, mosques, market places, motor parks, Nollywood, kannywood, traditional rulers, labour and the entertainment industry but when one of their members accepts to turn a new leaf, we turn our back to him? These are questions those opposed to Naira Marley’s needed change may have to ponder on.”
He noted that: “Indeed, no one is better suited to take the message against drug abuse to the Marlians than the head of the same movement. This is no time for mischief or cynicism but the right moment we all need to encourage the singer and hold him accountable to his public commitment against substance abuse in his video message to his followers in the overall interest of our youths.”
