NAN-H-78
Cooperation
By Temitope Ponle
Abuja, Sept. 20, 2016 (NAN) ECOWAS and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), have signed a letter of cooperation to implement the UNODC programme and ECOWAS Action Plan in the fight against Illicit drug trafficking and organised crime.
A statement from the Commission on Tuesday in Abuja, said that the letter of cooperation was signed in an event on the side-lines of the ongoing 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The joint event was for the launch of UNODC’s Regional Programme for West Africa (2016-20) and the ECOWAS Plan of Action to Address Illicit Drug Trafficking, Organised Crime and Drug Abuse in West Africa (2016-20).
According to the statement, the signing of the letter was a confirmation of the commitment of both parties to ensure an effective and integrated implementation of the programmes developed to fight drug abuse in West Africa.
It stated that the cooperation came at a time when the sub-region was being threatened by transnational organised crime, illicit drug trafficking, terrorism, corruption, laundering of criminal assets and terrorism financing among others.
“These constantly evolving threats if left unchecked, will ultimately compromise social, economic and human development in the region.
“Following the evaluation of the results of the UNODC Regional Programme and the ECOWAS Plan for West Africa 2008 to 2014, and considering emerging threats and trends, the UNODC has developed its new Regional Programme for West Africa.
“And ECOWAS has elaborated its Regional Action Plan to Address Illicit Drug Trafficking, Organised Crime and Drug Abuse in West Africa, both an implementation period covering 2016 till 2020,” the statement said.
News Agency of NigeriaNAN) reports that the two strategic documents are aim to mobilise joint efforts to successfully face current and future threats in West Africa.
The documents would also support national, regional and inter-regional actions to strengthen the capacities of states in areas of governance, security and health promotion.
The letter of cooperation was signed by Mr Marcel de Souza, ECOWAS Commission President and Mr Yury Fedotov, Executive Director, UNODC. (NAN)
Edited by Julius Enehikhuere
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