Rep Ottah Agbo Receives Award from UNODC

… Says Award Will Spur Him To Wage More War Against Drug Abuse

In recognition of his relentless efforts towards ensuring a nation free from the menace of dangerous drugs and controlled substances, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Narcotic Drugs, Dr. Francis Ottah Agbo has been honoured with a Special Recognition Award by The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

The Award was presented to Dr. Ottah Agbo yesterday by the Ambassador of the Committee on Narcotic Drugs and President of A NEW THING International Foundation, Amb. Kenneth Anetor.

Amb Anetor gave the award on behalf of the UNODC at the project closure event of the organization with the theme: “10 years of EU-UNODC – Nigeria Partnership on Drugs Control in Nigeria…”
The event held at the Prof Babatunde Osotimehin auditorium , UNITED NATIONS House, FCT- Abuja.

According to the UNODC, the award bestowed on the Give Back Parliament was in recognition of his excellent leadership and contributions in the war against Narcotic Drugs and “Organized crimes in Nigeria project,” a 10-year long project and the longest funded by the EU so far.

Hon. Ottah Agbo in his remarks thanked the organization for the award saying it has strengthened his conviction in doing what is right and for the benefit of the people.

” This award by the UNODC will spur me up, it has already rolled up my sleeves to consolidate the fight against drugs abuse and trafficking…
This war is for every well meaning Nigerian. It should be owned by all and sundry, beginning from the family unit to the top. Nigerians should not leave it for Government alone.

“Failure to kill drug abuse and trafficking in this country, it will kill Nigeria. In other words, if we don’t fight the menace of drugs abuse and trafficking of banned and controlled substances, the implication is that we expose the future of our country to grave danger,” he stated.

The EU fund has been a major supplementary support to the Nigerian budgetary allocations on drug control and has through the UNODC, supported research, drug demand & supply reduction, capacity building of stakeholders, including legislators for policy development in Nigeria.