NDLEA’s Reason for Naira Marley’s Drug Advocacy

Femi Babafemi, spokesperson for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, explained that they purposely engaged the contentious artiste Naira Marley for their drug abuse awareness campaign.

Following a video where Naira Marley urged young people to avoid illicit substances, criticisms arose due to his reputation for glorifying and endorsing drug abuse.

In an interview on Saturday 19th of August, 2023, Babafemi said, “It is an advocacy engagement with him. It is what we do as part of the responsibilities of the agency to promote advocacy messages that would discourage people from substance abuse. It is about the message.

“Don’t forget that he has a lot of young followers— Marlians— that look up to him. The idea is for the leader of the movement (Marlians) to come out and ask people to stop substance abuse, and live a new life.”

The agency’s spokesperson emphasized that involving Marley as an advocate doesn’t exempt him from arrest if caught with illicit substances. He said, “Last year, we arrested some of his artistes (Zinoleesky and Mohbad). That is to show that we are not closing our eyes. If the same Naira Marley is caught with illicit substances tomorrow, he will face sanctions.”

Babafemi added that critics should consider the message and not focus on the messenger.

Following his selection, criticism has ensued from different people. Amongst the many critics was Ossai Success, an aide to a former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa,who took to his Facebook page where he vowed to take legal action against NDLEA if he saw Naira Marley smoking again after his visit to the agency.

He wrote, “I will sue NDLEA if I see Naira Marley or any of the artistes signed to his record label smoking in his music video or on ground. I am watching him carefully because I am happy with the campaign.

Another person who criticised the choice of Naira Marley was actress, Tonto Dikeh. She wrote on social media, “NDLEA, you are looking like a disgrace. This is not an insult, but this is from a daughter of the soil speaking out on your misconduct.

“I don’t involve myself in rubbish, especially that of other people.

This, I must say, is the biggest embarrassment from any government agency/drug law enforcement agency. I would like to say more, but I’ll wait for  NDLEA to pick me up for an interview/drug test/or just a chat.

You know my address. I ask you to do it respectfully; otherwise we’ll have a problem. And, if I am replied I would gladly respond disrespectfully.”