The Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Abia State Command, CN Chilee Chigbu says the Command operates one of the largest and most effective rehabilitation centres in Nigeria, where rehabilitation of individuals affected by drug abuse is handled.

The Commander, who stated this during her visit to the State Coordinator of National Directorate of Employment, NDE, Mrs Nwachukwu Tessy, emphasized the need for sustained support in the recovery process of rehabilitated drug addicts.

She stressed that rehabilitation alone is not enough without proper reintegration into society and appealed to the NDE to introduce skill acquisition programmes for individuals currently undergoing treatment at the NDLEA rehabilitation centre.

According to CN Chilee, equipping the rehabilitated drug users with practical skills will help them cope better during and after their recovery from addiction.

He further urged the NDE to consider providing employment opportunities for rehabilitated individuals, noting that gainful engagement is key to preventing relapse and ensuring they remain productive members of society.

In her response, the State Coordinator of the NDE, Abia State, assured the NDLEA of the agency’s readiness to collaborate effectively.

She stated that the NDE has professional trainers spread across the State who are well-equipped to support skill acquisition programmes covering over eighty different vocational skills.