NDLEA denies frustrating visa application of intending Law student

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said the Agency would not do anything to frustrate the future of Nigerian youths, but rather try to salvage the youths when they try to go astray.

The Akwa Ibom State Commander, Mrs. Obot Bassey, said this on Friday in Uyo while reacting to the viral video in the social media from one Godwin Akpan, who claimed he was denied visa clearance from the NDLEA to travel to study Law in India.

Bassey said the viral video being mischievously circulated by the young man indicts NDLEA of hindering his trip to India to study Law on scholarship, by not issuing him visa clearance.

She explained that the said Godwin Akpan on Sept. 1 visited the Akwa Ibom Command of the agency to collect visa clearance requirements to enable him travel to study Law in India.

She added that Akpan returned to Akwa Ibom command of the agency on Sept. 20 with application as required by law to process the visa clearance.

The state commander said that the command without delay processed the application and on Sept. 23 concluded investigation and dispatched his application to Visa Clearance Department,  Lagos office for further action.

She said that the period of processing the visa clearance by NDLEA is expected to last not beyond three weeks.

Bassey wondered at the motive behind the young man, Akpan going to the social media to say that the agency denied him visa clearance to travel for study in India.

She said that counting down from Sept. 21 when Akpan submitted his application for clearance to date was just two weeks and two days away from the three weeks stipulated.

“It is pertinent to inform the public that the visa clearance proceedings in the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) takes three weeks to conclude.

“In the case of Akpan Godwin Goodhead, he obtained the form from NDLEA, Akwa Ibom State Command on the Sept. 1, 2021 and without completing the application,  he set out for Abuja Embassy, was denied access, left for Lagos Embassy, was also denied access.

“While at Lagos, Akpan Godwin was busy misinforming the public on Facebook,  his file was being processed at the visa clearance department Lagos and currently on transit to Akwa Ibom State Command.

“It is a thing of joy to the Agency in particular and the nation at large when her youths pursue the right paths like this young man and not dabble into drug activities.

“NDLEA will never frustrate the future of any youth but instead try to salvage it when they go astray,” Bassey said.

The state commander stressed that NDLEA as a Federal Government Agency would ensure its mandate to rid the country of illicit drugs and its attendant consequences.