UNODC partners Ondo Assembly, expands intervention to states

By Precious Oluwole

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has deepened its operations in Nigeria by extending interventions to the state level, with the Ondo State House of Assembly becoming the first sub-national parliament in the country to engage directly with the organization.

Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji, disclosed this on Wednesday while receiving the UNODC Country Representative, Mr. Cheikh Toure, and his delegation on a courtesy visit to the Assembly Complex in Akure.

Describing the engagement as historic, Oladiji said the partnership would open fresh avenues for technical support, capacity building, and the adoption of global best practices in lawmaking.

“This visit provides us with an opportunity to collaborate with UNODC in strengthening our legislative frameworks, enhancing cybercrime laws, promoting anti-corruption measures, and building capacity for effective governance,” the Speaker stated.

He assured that the Assembly was prepared to align with Nigeria’s obligations under international conventions while addressing challenges such as drug abuse, human trafficking, and organized crime.

Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Ololade Gbegudu, urged the UNODC to broaden its intervention beyond cybercrime to tackle general security concerns, while the Majority Leader, Hon. Chief Olatunji Oshati, called for stronger grassroots sensitization on the dangers of drug abuse. Other principal officers also stressed the importance of offender rehabilitation and institutional resilience.

In his remarks, UNODC Country Representative, Cheikh Toure, commended the Assembly’s leadership and reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting sub-national institutions.

“For nearly 30 years, UNODC has operated in Nigeria. Expanding our reach to the states ensures that no one is left behind. The challenges of drug abuse, organized crime, and cybercrime are rooted in local communities, and that is where preventive awareness must begin,” he said.

Other delegation members, including Mrs. Baranaye Marcus and Aisha Braimah, highlighted UNODC’s mandate in combating terrorism, corruption, drug trafficking, and human trafficking, emphasizing youth empowerment as a pathway to preventing crime and fostering development.

The visit, both parties agreed, would serve as a foundation for stronger collaboration to combat crime, safeguard human rights, and promote peace and justice in Ondo State.

Clerk of the House, Barrister Jaiyeola Benjamin, in a vote of thanks, praised the Assembly’s leadership for driving reforms and urged the UNODC to sustain the collaboration.