The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mohamed Buba Marwa, has declared that Nigeria is no longer a safe haven for criminal drug enterprises, citing unprecedented operational gains recorded by the Agency over the past five years.
Marwa disclosed that between 2021 and 2025, the NDLEA arrested 77,792 drug offenders, including 128 identified drug barons, secured 14,225 convictions, and seized 14,847,486.34 kilograms of assorted illicit substances, significantly disrupting both local and transnational drug supply chains.
The NDLEA boss made this known in his remarks at the 11th Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CCEO) Awards and Commendation Ceremony, held at the Agency’s National Headquarters in Abuja, where he charged officers to prepare for more tactically sophisticated, intelligence-led operations against drug cartels, traffickers and their couriers in the next five years of his second tenure.
“When I first resumed in 2021, I promised to take the fight to the doorsteps of the merchants of death,” Marwa said. “Today, the numbers speak for themselves. Through our collective resilience, we have sent a clear message that Nigeria is no longer a safe haven for illicit drug enterprise.”
According to him, beyond arrests and seizures, the Agency has strengthened the criminal justice response to drug crimes, ensuring that offenders face the full weight of the law. “By successfully prosecuting and securing convictions against 14,225 offenders, we have reinforced deterrence and affirmed that drug crime attracts consequences,” he stated.
Marwa further highlighted NDLEA’s balanced approach to drug control, noting that 32,442 drug users benefited from structured treatment, counselling and rehabilitation programmes, while 13,735 War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities were conducted nationwide across schools, motor parks, workplaces, worship centres and communities to curb drug demand through preventive education.
He attributed the achievements to discipline, leadership, intelligence-driven operations and clear performance expectations, while acknowledging the critical support of the executive, legislature and judiciary.
The NDLEA chairman expressed profound appreciation to Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for what he described as unwavering support and the confidence reposed in the Agency’s leadership.
“These achievements are not accidental. They are the result of discipline, leadership, intelligence-led operations and clear performance expectations,” Marwa said. “Mr President’s decision to extend our mandate is a call to more work. We assure him and all Nigerians that the successes of the past five years are only a foundation.”
He assured that under his second tenure, the Agency would escalate the war against drug abuse and trafficking to new heights of efficiency, effectiveness and measurable results.
