… Honours 274 Personnel, 18 Commands, 19 NGOs And Media Organisations At 12th Awards Ceremony
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), has charged officers and men of the Agency to remain resilient in the fight against illicit drugs, describing the drug war as a generational responsibility.
Marwa gave the charge on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at the 12th Chairman/Chief Executive Officer’s Commendations and Awards ceremony held at the NDLEA National Headquarters in Abuja.
The ceremony saw 274 personnel honoured for outstanding performance, alongside 18 best-performing commands and 19 NGOs and media organisations recognised for their contributions to the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign.
Marwa said the persistent and evolving nature of the drug challenge meant that the Agency could not afford to relent in its efforts.
“The war against illicit drugs is not a campaign with an end date. It is a generational responsibility. For every cartel we dismantle, intelligence tells us another will attempt to rise. For every corridor we shut down, traffickers will search for another route.”
The NDLEA Chairman stressed that the fight against drug trafficking and substance abuse could not be won through enforcement alone, noting that sustained collaboration with civil society organisations and the media remained critical.
He commended NGOs for working within communities to help young people overcome addiction, while praising journalists for reporting on trafficking networks, rehabilitation and the struggles of families affected by substance abuse.
According to him, civil society and media partners have served as a multiplier for the Agency’s efforts by taking anti-drug messages into homes, schools and communities beyond the direct reach of law enforcement.
Marwa acknowledged that many other individuals, organisations and media platforms across the country also deserved recognition, stressing that the awards ceremony represented the beginning of a sustained tradition.
He assured that subsequent editions would continue to identify and honour more Nigerians and organisations contributing to the fight against drug abuse.
Highlighting recent operational successes, the NDLEA boss cited the dismantling of the Amadi Simon drug cartel, the takedown of two Nigerian-Mexican methamphetamine cartels operating in forests in Ogun and Oyo States, and the disruption of a tramadol cartel exploiting the Togo-Benin Republic-Nigeria corridor.
He said the operations were products of painstaking intelligence gathering, cross-border cooperation and the courage of NDLEA personnel who ventured into areas believed to be beyond the reach of law enforcement.
“These were not simple raids. They were the product of patient intelligence-gathering, cross-border cooperation, and officers willing to go where the criminals believed no one would follow.”
Marwa urged NDLEA personnel to regard the award recipients as a standard to aspire to rather than a ceiling to their professional growth.
He similarly called on civil society organisations and media partners to see the recognition as an invitation to deepen their contributions to the anti-drug campaign rather than as a reason to rest on their achievements.
He congratulated all recipients of the awards and commendations and expressed appreciation to their families and Nigerians for continuing to support and trust the Agency in the fight against illicit drugs and substance abuse.
