The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has called on traditional rulers, parents and community leaders across Nigeria to take greater responsibility in the fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.
Marwa made the appeal on Saturday during the 10th anniversary of Akinale Day and the first coronation anniversary of Oba Oluseyi Ayodeji Adewole Adediran, Otileta I, Towulade of Owu Akinale, held at Baptist Primary School, Owu Akinale, Ogun State.
Speaking at the event, the NDLEA Chairman described his attendance as “a pilgrimage of friendship, respect and deep-seated admiration,” recalling his longstanding relationship with the monarch, which dates back nearly two decades to Oba Adediran’s days as leader of the Lisabi Youths.
He praised the traditional ruler for his exemplary leadership, noting that the qualities he demonstrated as a youth leader continue to define his reign as the Towulade of Owu Akinale.
Addressing the challenge of drug abuse, Marwa warned that substance abuse cuts across all social and economic classes, affecting both urban and rural communities. He urged parents to return to the fundamentals of responsible parenting by closely monitoring their children and paying attention to early signs of behavioural changes.
He also appealed to young people to stay away from illicit drugs, stressing that drug abuse offers only a temporary illusion of escape while creating more serious personal and societal problems.
Marwa further called on the Royal Council and community leaders in Owu Akinale to establish community-based advocacy networks aimed at preventing drug trafficking and supporting individuals battling substance dependence.
According to him, the NDLEA cannot successfully win the war against drugs without the active partnership of traditional institutions, whose influence and understanding of local communities remain critical to protecting young people.
The NDLEA boss also expressed concern over the recent discovery of industrial-scale clandestine methamphetamine laboratories allegedly operated by a Nigerian-Mexican drug cartel in the forests of Ogun and Oyo states.
He urged traditional rulers and community leaders across the Southwest and the country to be vigilant by monitoring activities within their forests and ensuring that prospective buyers of farmlands in rural communities are thoroughly vetted to prevent criminal elements from exploiting local communities.
The anniversary celebration attracted political leaders, eminent traditional rulers and other distinguished guests from across the country.
