By Rose Oranye
The Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Dr Law Mefor, on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, joined officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) from Abuja and Anambra State Command on a tour of selected communities in the state to brief them on the NDLEA Alternative Development Programme.
The communities visited were Nimo, Abatete and Ogidi. The visit is a collaborative effort of the Anambra State Ministry of Information and Value Reformation’s Value Reformation Project, the Ministry of Health’s Anambra State War Against Drug Abuse, and the NDLEA War Against Drug Abuse.
Speaking at Abatete, Dr Mefor said dangerous drugs have taken centre stage in today’s society, hence the State Command of NDLEA brought the idea and the Ministries of Information and Health keyed into it because it aligns with Soludo’s efforts to sanitise the state of illicit drugs.
“We will fight it seriously. It’s not just about drug dealers and users. Those here can help get others. Let’s work to save our people. NDLEA will work with the community to help our community,” he said.
The Anambra State Commander of NDLEA, Commander Charles O.Onubuogu, said the Alternative Development Programme targets drug dealers and users as an alternative to enforcement, urging the community to partner to benefit from it.
“We need to work together to benefit from this. The programme is to help us because if the community is good, it’s for everyone,” he said, pleading with those present to inform others, noting that Abatete has people who can partner to key into the programme to accommodate more people.
The President-General of Abatete, Chief Ezebinobi Chinaeme Ezigbo, who thanked the youths and others present for coming, urged them to transfer the message to others.
“The programme underscores the fact that everybody should be involved. We should help ourselves to ensure we handover the development here to better leaders of tomorrow,” he said, thanking NDLEA and the Ministry for the visit.
The National Coordinator of the NDLEA Alternative Development Programme, Dr Jonas Kolo, said that Nigeria has been recognised by the United Nations as the first country in Africa to implement alternative development, with Anambra as the first state in the zone for implementation after successes recorded in other states, adding that the project is funded by the Federal Government of Nigeria and technically supported by the United Nations, among others.
Dr Kolo said the programme seeks to restore the future stolen by drugs by positively and productively engaging young men and women, assuring that whatever support comes from the community will be reinvested in the community, and expressing hope for more prosperity, development, peace and security in the community and Anambra State.
The team had earlier visited Nanka, Oraifite and Nkwelle, respectively
