Honourable Abdul Karim Kamara, Chief Whip of the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party, has criticized the government for underfunding the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), calling its budget allocation inadequate for addressing Sierra Leone’s escalating drug abuse crisis.
Speaking during a committee debate on the 2025 fiscal sub-appropriation, Kamara compared the NDLEA’s budget to the sums spent by some Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) on end-of-year parties. He highlighted the stark disparity, pointing to the devastating effects of drugs like Kush on the country’s youth.
“The NDLEA’s allocation is grossly insufficient for the critical role it plays. This is what some MDAs spend on social events,” Kamara remarked. He expressed concern that the agency, tasked with combating illicit drug use, operates with only 12 staff members, no vehicles, and no regional offices, leaving it severely under-resourced.
Kamara emphasized the urgency of addressing drug addiction, which he described as a growing threat to the future of Sierra Leone. He urged the Ministry of Finance to prioritize NDLEA funding, criticizing the government for keeping the agency’s allocation stagnant for three years.
“This agency is vital to our nation’s future, yet it lacks the manpower, resources, and operational capacity to address this crisis. How can they fight drug abuse with no vehicles or basic tools?” he asked.
Kamara also criticized the NDLEA’s reliance on the Sierra Leone Police for operations, underscoring the government’s failure to equip the agency to protect the youth. He called for a significant budget increase to empower the NDLEA to effectively combat drug abuse.
“This budget allocation reflects how much value we place on our youth,” Kamara stated. “If we don’t act now, the impact of drug addiction will only worsen.”
His remarks echo the urgent need for a stronger commitment to addressing drug abuse in Sierra Leone, with adequate resources allocated to the NDLEA to safeguard the nation’s future.
