The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have unveiled a weeklong lineup of activities to commemorate the 2026 World Drug Day, with the anti-narcotics agency pledging to intensify efforts against criminal drug networks across the country.
The announcement was made during a joint press briefing held at the NDLEA National Headquarters in Abuja on Friday.
Speaking at the event, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), said the agency remains committed to dismantling drug cartels and cutting off the financial resources that sustain their operations.
Represented by the Secretary of the Agency, Shadrach Haruna, Marwa described World Drug Day, observed annually on June 26, as an important opportunity to assess global and national efforts against illicit drugs and chart a new course for future interventions.
Addressing the 2026 theme, “The World Drug Problem: Persisting Issues, New Challenges, Innovative Responses,” Marwa noted that the global drug landscape continues to evolve with the emergence of synthetic substances, sophisticated trafficking networks and digital drug markets.
He said the changing nature of the threat requires proactive, technology-driven and innovative responses from governments and stakeholders.
According to him, the NDLEA has modernised its operations and strengthened its enforcement capabilities while expanding preventive initiatives through its flagship War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign.
Marwa said WADA has become a formidable whole-of-society approach that bridges the gap between law enforcement and the public, encouraging citizens to actively participate in efforts to curb drug abuse.
He disclosed that activities marking this year’s World Drug Day commenced on June 19 with a press conference and special Juma’at prayer service, while other events include a Walk Against Drugs, youth-focused programmes, a national essay competition, NGO Day and community sensitisation campaigns.
The weeklong activities will culminate in a grand finale on June 26 at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, where new policy frameworks aimed at addressing emerging drug-related challenges will be unveiled.
Highlighting the agency’s operational achievements, Marwa said NDLEA’s “Offensive Action” against drug cartels, launched in January 2021, has continued to yield significant results through the arrest and prosecution of major drug barons.
He added that the agency is increasingly deploying provisions of the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) to target assets linked to illicit drug activities.
“We are not just arresting traffickers; we are liquidating their financial empires,” he said, noting that assets suspected to be proceeds of drug crimes are being forfeited to the Federal Government through civil action procedures.
The NDLEA chairman also expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, state governments, international partners and local security agencies for their support in the fight against drug trafficking and abuse.
In his remarks, UNODC Country Representative, Cheikh Ousmane Toure, represented by Deputy Country Representative Danielo Campisi, said the global drug problem continues to evolve and requires collective action.
He stressed that no single institution can effectively tackle the challenge alone, emphasizing the importance of partnerships, shared responsibility and sustained interventions.
Campisi reaffirmed UNODC’s commitment to supporting Nigeria through evidence-based strategies, innovation, international cooperation and human-centred approaches aimed at protecting communities from the harmful effects of illicit drugs.
He urged stakeholders to remain united in addressing both existing and emerging drug-related threats while advancing sustainable solutions to safeguard lives and communities.
