Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Abuja, Nigeria — Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has declared that Nigeria is no longer a haven for criminal drug enterprises, citing a string of operational breakthroughs achieved over the past five years. Speaking at the 11th Chairman/Chief Executive Officer Awards and Commendation Ceremony held at the Agency’s National Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, 20 January 2026, Marwa outlined a record of enforcement, prosecution, community engagement and rehabilitation that he said demonstrates sustained commitment to combating drug trafficking and abuse nationwide.
Marwa highlighted a series of impressive statistics from 2021 to 2025, noting that NDLEA operatives have arrested 77,792 suspected drug offenders, including 128 suspected drug barons at the core of major trafficking networks. During the same period, the Agency reportedly seized 14,847,486.34 kilograms of assorted illicit substances, significantly disrupting both domestic and transnational supply chains that fuel the illegal drug trade.
Addressing NDLEA officers, officials and invited guests, Marwa said the achievements reflect discipline, intelligence‑led operations and sustained pressure on criminal networks. “When I first resumed in 2021, I promised to take the fight to the doorsteps of the merchants of death. Today, the numbers speak for themselves,” he said, asserting that collective resilience has sent a clear signal that Nigeria will no longer serve as a safe haven for illicit drug enterprise.
Marwa also underscored the Agency’s role in strengthening the criminal justice response to drug offences. He said that NDLEA prosecutors secured 14,225 convictions against traffickers and offenders, reinforcing deterrence under the law and affirming that drug crimes attract meaningful consequences in Nigeria’s courts.
Beyond enforcement, the NDLEA chief emphasised the importance of demand reduction strategies. The Agency said that 32,442 drug users received structured treatment, counselling and rehabilitation services, while 13,735 War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities were conducted across diverse public settings, including schools, motor parks, workplaces, places of worship and communities nationwide. Marwa described these efforts as key to expanding preventive awareness and citizen engagement in the fight against substance abuse.
The ceremony’s honourees included personnel recognised for exceptional courage, integrity and dedication to duty. Marwa said the awards should serve as reminders of the high value the Agency places on hard work and performance, with the broader objective of motivating others within the force to sustain commitment and drive.
Marwa paid tribute to the executive, legislature and judiciary, particularly acknowledging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his “unflinching support” and trust in NDLEA leadership. He described the President’s decision to extend the current leadership’s mandate as an invitation to escalate the war against drug abuse and trafficking to “new heights” in the upcoming years.
Looking ahead, Marwa challenged NDLEA operatives to brace for even more complex and sophisticated operations as the Agency intensifies efforts in his second tenure. “The next phase of our operations demands even more grit and tactical sophistication,” he said, urging officers to remain proactive, intelligence‑led and uncompromising in pursuit of traffickers, drug barons, couriers and every gram of illicit drugs that threaten Nigerian communities.
“There is no room for complacency,” Marwa said. “We will not rest until every drug baron is behind bars, every trafficker is intercepted, every mule is caught, and every single gram of illicit drug is removed from our streets and communities.”
He reiterated the Agency’s overarching objective: total disruption of drug trafficking and protection of communities. Marwa stressed the sustained application of pressure on criminal networks until “every drug baron, trafficker, courier and every gram of illicit drugs is taken out of our streets.”
The NDLEA chief also acknowledged the vital roles of international partners, sister agencies, civil society organisations and the media in supporting the Agency’s successes, calling for deeper strategic collaborations in the years ahead — especially to safeguard Nigerian children and future generations from the scourge of drug abuse.
In closing, Marwa reaffirmed that motivation, discipline and organisational culture have been integral to the Agency’s achievements, promising continued investment in systems that improve productivity and operational effectiveness.
The 11th CCEO Awards was attended by senior government officials, NDLEA personnel and representatives of partner institutions, marking a key milestone in the Agency’s ongoing campaign against drugs in Nigeria.
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