Ondo NDLEA builds N10 million church

The church is part of the agency’s drive to rehabilitate people, Ondo NDLEA says.

Officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency in Ondo state have jointly contributed N10 million to build a church within the agency’s premises in Akure as part of the agency’s drive to rehabilitate people affected by the consumption of Indian hemp.

The agency’s commander, Walter Nicholas, disclosed this at the official commissioning of the church christened “Chapel of restoration”.

Mr. Nicholas disclosed the N10 million was contributed to build the edifice through monthly deduction from the salaries of the staffers of the agency.

He said the officers of the command willingly parted with part of the salaries to ensure the construction of the building see the light of the day.

The building project was flagged off in November 5 last year and was completed in a record time of one year.

Ondo state is one of the states in Nigeria that is known for high cultivation of cannabis otherwise known as Indian hemp.

Despite the spirited efforts made the officials of the agency to reduce the trend, the illicit trade has continued to boom

Even with the arrest of several people, the barons have continued to device new tricks of hiding their harvests.

The agency has made a seizure of 45, 0000 tons of Indian hemp valued at over N2 billion from January to November this year.

He said, “The successful completion of the Church is my dream comes true. I have to thank officers of the command for the unalloyed cooperation.

“They all cooperated with me to build a befitting house for God through monthly contribution from their salaries. They were not forced before they keyed into the programme”

Mr. Nicholas however noted the church would go a long way in assisting the command in its rehabilitation’s drive.

He said about 15 people affected by the consumption of cannabis are currently being rehabilitated in the command.