By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Emir of Ilorin, and Chairman of the Kwara State Traditional Council of Chiefs, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, has assured the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) of the support of monarchs in the state in curbing drug abuse and its menace.

Alhaji Sulu-Gambari, who spoke during a courtesy call on him by the new Commander of the NDLEA in the State, Hajia Fatima Abiola Popoola, said he would further
engage other traditional rulers, as the closest to the people at the grassroots, on the need to enlighten their subjects against involving themselves in drug related offences.

The traditional ruler, who stressed the need for more enlightenments and sensitisations on the need for Nigerians, particularly the youths to shun social vices, commended the
management, officers and men of the NDLEA for battling hard, day and night, to check the activities of drug traffickers within and around States sharing boarders with Kwara State.

He therefore appealed to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to further assist the agency in the provision of logistics, particularly patrol vehicles, so as to enhance the discharge of their responsibilities without much hindrance and stress.

On the ongoing Rehabilitation Centre, which is named after him, the Emir expressed surprise that since 10 years ago that the groundbreaking of the of the Centre was laid, it has not been commissioned, assuring the Commander that he would do everything possible to ensure its speedy completion so as to put it into good use.

The Emir later prayed for the new Commander, and her team to succeed in the discharge of their duties.

Earlier, the Commander of the agency, Hajia Fatima Abiola Popoola, had said she came in company of other management staff to receive royal blessings, while praising the Emir for always being supportive of all the activities of the agency and pleaded for more of such support.

According to her, some of the major challenges facing the agency is lack of functional vehicles and other logistics which she said are seriously hampering the discharge of their duties.

She also appealed to the Emir to facilitate the speedy completion of the ongoing Rehabilitation Centre which is named in his honour, stressing that if completed, it would go a long way to remodel those that are into drug menace, trafficking and other social vices.