The Abia State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has called for stronger collaboration with the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) to support the reintegration of individuals recovering from drug abuse through skills acquisition and employment opportunities.

The NDLEA State Commander, Chilee Chigbu, made the appeal during a visit to the Abia State Coordinator of the NDE, Nwachukwu Tessy, where she highlighted the importance of post-rehabilitation support.

Chigbu said the Abia NDLEA Command operates one of the largest rehabilitation centres in the country, stressing that recovery efforts must go beyond treatment to include structured reintegration into society.

According to her, providing practical vocational skills to recovering drug users would help them remain productive and reduce the risk of relapse after completing rehabilitation programmes.

She also urged the NDE to consider creating employment pathways for rehabilitated individuals, noting that stable engagement plays a critical role in sustaining long-term recovery.

In response, Tessy assured the NDLEA of the agency’s readiness to collaborate, stating that the NDE has trained instructors across Abia State capable of supporting skill acquisition initiatives.

She added that the agency currently offers training in more than 80 vocational areas that could benefit individuals undergoing rehabilitation.