By GODWIN ORITSE

THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said that it cannot vacate the ports based on verbal orders of the Minister reported in the newspapers.

The agency’s comments is coming more than one month after the federal government through the Minister of Fiannce ordered the NDELEA and other agencies to vacate the ports.

Speaking to Vanguard agency’s Spokesman Mr Mitchelle Ofoyeju said that it will be irresponsible of the agency to leave the ports based on a Minister’s verbal directive.

He told Vanguard that the Act establishing the agency allows it to be at all Customs ports, border posts and airports.Ofoyeju explained that the agency came into the ports based on written directive that was properly documented and communicated to it.

Explaining further, he said that the same directive for then to leave the should be communicated to them through writing adding that when this is done then we adhere accordingly. “There is an Act, and the law allows us to be at the ports, border posts ans airports we cannot leave the ports based on newspaper reports.

“The directive for us to leave the ports should written and directed to the Chairman of the agency, who will in turn direct his operatives to vacate the ports”.

It would be recalled that the Federal Government early last month sacked National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) from the country’s seaports.

This decision to sack the affected agencies was taken to make the Nigerian seaports more user friendly, reduce the cost of cargo and quicken the cargo clearing process.