Esther Salifu
The Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd), has pledged support to the Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DICAN) in its strategic programmes aimed at combating disinformation and fake news that threaten Nigeria’s sovereignty.
Marwa, represented by the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, made this known in Abuja after receiving the DICAN Prestigious International Award for Bravery and Innovation in the Fight Against Illicit Drugs.
“The honour and the recognition given to the chairman and chief executive of the agency, and the agency as a whole, indicates that what we are doing is not going unnoticed,”. “Apart from the motivation that the award brings, it is also a push for us to want to do more.”Babafemi said on behalf of Marwa.
He added that the award was particularly significant because it came from the media community covering diplomacy, noting that
“This is not just a recognition coming to him, it’s a recognition coming to the personnel of the agency. Actually, they are the ones doing the work on the field, he is providing guidance and leadership.”
The NDLEA boss commended DICAN for hosting the world’s first journalists’ event with the theme: “Nigeria’s 4Ds Foreign Policy Strategy Amidst Global Security Challenges, Strategic Misperceptions, and the Age of Disinformation,The Role of Diplomacy, Intelligence, and Media in Shaping National and Global Stability.”
He assured the association of NDLEA’s continuous support, saying
“By the grace of God, we would definitely be looking forward to your next programme, and by then, God willing, we will be physically present and well represented, so that we can also encourage and support what you are doing.”
Earlier, Chairman of DICAN, Idehai Frederick, said the choice of NDLEA for the prestigious award was in recognition of its reforms and initiatives in tackling drug syndicates, barons, and curbing illicit substance abuse.
He explained that DICAN was committed to equipping its members to identify and counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI), disinformation, and fake news, which he described as threats to democracy.
“We are bent on making a difference by enhancing the capacity of our members to sharpen their skills in tackling these global menaces,” he said.
Other prominent Nigerians honoured alongside Marwa included former President Goodluck Jonathan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar,Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo,Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa ,National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; and Air Peace Founder, Allen Onyema, among others.
