The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s (NDLEA) spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said that the organisation purposefully hired the contentious performer Azeez Fashola, nicknamed Naira Marley, for its drug misuse propaganda.
MDB has stated that complaints followed a video of Naira Marley urging young people to abstain from using illegal drugs. This was especially true given that the musician is well-known for glorifying and promoting drug usage.
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In an interview with the PUNCH, Babafemi said, “It is an advocacy engagement with him. It is what we do as part of the responsibilities of the agency to promote advocacy messages that would discourage people from substance abuse. It is about the message.
“Don’t forget that he has a lot of young followers— Marlians— that look up to him. The idea is for the leader of the movement (Marlians) to come out and ask people to stop substance abuse, and live a new life.”
The drug agency’s spokesperson also noted that using Naira Marley as an advocate did not mean that the agency won’t arrest him if he was caught with illegal substances.
He said, “Last year, we arrested some of his artistes (Zinoleesky and Mohbad). That is to show that we are not closing our eyes. If the same Naira Marley is caught with illicit substances tomorrow, he will face sanctions.”
