Japan supports ECOWAS fight against illicit drugs

Japan supports ECOWAS fight against illicit drugs
Rebecca Muazu, Abuja

Japan has donated sixty thousand Dollars to the West African Regional bloc, ECOWAS, in order to combat illicit drugs and provide assistance to strengthen the operational capacity of the ECOWAS Inter-Ministerial Drug Coordinating Committee in Guinea, Conakry.

The Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria and first Permanent Representative of Japan to ECOWAS, Mr. Toshitsugu Uesawa, made the donation at the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

Uesawa said that the gesture was to further show how important Africa had become to the Asian country.

Fighting illicit drugs

The Japanese Ambassador, Mr. Toshitsugu Uesawa said his country had decided to extend its contribution to anti-drug trafficking to enhance the efforts of ECOWAS in order to facilitate the proper coordination and implementation of ECOWAS plan of action on the prevention of illicit drug trafficking and organized crimes in the region.

The ECOWAS Commission President, Ambassador James Victor Gbeho,  said that drug trafficking and its related organized crime were rising in West Africa, with serious consequences on drug abuse and related peace, security and economic growth of the region.

He said that anti drug measures taken by ECOWAS would contribute to the peace and stability of West Africa.

The ECOWAS Commission President, Ambassador Gbeho said the funds would be channeled to good use.

ECOWAS says Japan has contributed a lot to the growth and development of the region.
At present, Japan has contributed 5.7 million dollars as assistance to ECOWAS regional projects.

Williams