The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismissed claims of designating the music artist Afeez Adeshina Fashola, widely recognized as Naira Marley, as its ambassador.

Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, issued a statement on Saturday to clarify the matter.

Babafemi explained that NDLEA’s recent interaction with Naira Marley aimed to encourage the musician to utilize his talent in discouraging young individuals from engaging in substance abuse. In opposition to conjectures, NDLEA emphasized that it had not officially appointed Naira Marley as its ambassador. 

“This clarification became necessary following continued misrepresentation of the purpose of the visit, especially on online platforms where some reports suggest that the British-Nigerian singer was appointed as an NDLEA Ambassador.

“This is a misleading and absolute falsehood as the pictures of the visit and the short video containing Naira Marley’s advocacy message to his followers were properly captioned and shared by the Agency without suggesting such an appointment. 

“The decision by the Agency to encourage Naira Marley, with over seven million followers, half the population of those who abuse drugs in Nigeria, to use his platform to share anti-substance abuse messages against using same to promote and glamourise drug abuse with the dire consequence of misleading millions of Nigerian youths into their peril, is to create a balance between our drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts”. 

Vistanaij Media recollects that on Thursday, 17th August 2023, Naira Marley led his team on a visit to the National Headquarters of NDLEA in Abuja. The purpose of the visit was to convey his readiness to contribute to the efforts against drug abuse in the nation.