Chairman of the National Drug and Law Enforcement Agency, Mohammed Abdallah, says tramadol abuse is responsible for the insurgency in the north-east.F
He noted that the dosage of Tramadol is between 50mg-100mg but those found in Nigeria range between 200mg-500mg.
Abdallah said: “The government of India has upped its ante; they have now put more control on the supply of tramadol to Nigeria.
“Tramadol, if I will explain a little bit more, for normal medicinal dosage is between 50mg and 100mg. But the ones we have seen in Nigeria range from 200mg to like 500mg. Even a horse will be deadbeat by the time it takes that.
“But that is what Nigerians have been taking. That is what fuels insurgency in the north-east because theatre commandants have testified to me that every Boko Haram camp they have overrun, they found paraphernalia of drug abuse, particularly tramadol.”
Speaking on the step taken by the government in curbing this, Abdallah said the staff-strength of the agency is being upgraded so as enable them to reach the nook and crannies of the country.
“On the part of the government, it has taken some steps to ameliorate some of the deficiencies of the agency. For a start, Mr President has authorised an upgrade on the staff strength of the agency.
“A staff strength of 5,000, without being told, is not a staff strength that can fight drugs the way it should be fought in Nigeria.
“Let me just mention three local governments – you know Mushin in Lagos, you know Fagge in Kano or even Nyanya in Abuja; I could deploy all of that strength to these places including me and there will still be some loopholes for trafficking and abuse to go on.
“That is why the president has approved the upgrade in phases. Following this will be logistics and equipment which come naturally with the upgrade of personnel.”
