By Desire Emmanuel
Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier-General Buba Marwa (retd), on Friday, March 27, described drug abuse and trafficking as a growing public health and national security crisis.
Marwa said this at the inauguration of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Country Programme for Nigeria 2026–2030 in Abuja.
He therefore called for urgent, coordinated action to address the threat of drug abuse.
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Lieutenant Colonel. Murtala Aminu, the NDLEA chairman said the evolving nature of drug problems in Nigeria, marked by increasing complexity and scale, demanded a shift in strategy and stronger collaboration among stakeholders.
According to him, drug trafficking is not only linked to violent crimes, but also fuels money laundering and undermines national security.
“The drug challenge in Nigeria is no longer a static threat, it is expanding and becoming more complex,” he said.
Marwa noted that the UNODC partnership with Nigeria had played a critical role in strengthening national efforts to combat illicit drug trafficking and transnational organised crime.
He described the newly inaugurated programme as a timely road map and clear statement of intent to tackle emerging threats more effectively.
The NDLEA boss said the agency had over the past five years, repositioned itself strategically to respond to the challenge.
He said this included intensifying enforcement operations and dismantling trafficking networks through intelligence-driven approaches.
He also noted that enforcement alone was not sufficient, emphasising the need for a balanced and humane response.
“We have strengthened enforcement, but we have also expanded our focus on prevention, counselling and rehabilitation,” he said.
Marwa further explained that the agency’s approach now integrated compassion for drug-dependent individuals, reflecting a transition from a purely punitive system to a restorative and human-centred model.
He said the UNODC Country Programme aligned with Nigeria’s priorities, particularly in promoting data-driven interventions, gender-sensitive approaches and institutional integrity within the justice system.
He added that recognising the unique vulnerabilities and roles of women in the drug landscape was critical to achieving meaningful progress.
Looking towards 2030, Marwa said success should be measured by the number of lives saved and communities strengthened, rather than the volume of drugs seized.
He called for a whole-of-society approach involving law enforcement agencies, healthcare providers, educators and communities.
