The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) have renewed their partnership in the fight against organised crimes, including drug trafficking and copyright piracy across the country.
Chairman and Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (Retd.) and Director-General of NCC, Dr. John O. Asein made this commitment during a courtesy visit of NCC delegates to the NDLEA Headquarters in Abuja.
In statement signed by the commission Director, Public Affairs Vincent A. Oyefeso, yesterday noted that drug trafficking and copyright piracy were inimical to national development.
They also expressed concern that both criminal activities adversely affect the youths particularly, thereby destroying the country’s creative resource “who also represents the future of Nigeria”.
NDLEA Boss,Brig.-General Marwa stressed the linkage between drug abuse and copyright piracy and assured of renewed institutional support and capacity building to boost the enforcement capacity of NCC while both agencies would continue to share intelligence.
“We are going to collaborate and work together because the drug scourge requires collaborative efforts. All hands must be on deck, and we are happy to work together with NCC”, he stressed.
Earlier, the Director-General, NCC had commended NDLEA for supporting the Commission’s efforts at fighting piracy, through training of officers, logistic support and information sharing.
He agreed that drug traffickers often channel their ill-gotten wealth through copyright piracy to give a semblance of legitimate business. This, according to him, underscored the need for both Agencies to strengthen the partnership against criminal activities for the good of society.
Meanwhile,The Chairman, NDLEA, commended the Commission on the passage of the Copyright Bill and for the numerous achievements of NCC in bringing sanity to the creative sector. He gave further assurances that NDLEA would join other stakeholders to canvass for early presidential assent to the Bill.
