By Heapnews
The chairman of Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mohamed Buba Marwa, on Thursday urged Nigerians to resist what he described as a toxic pop culture that glamourises illicit drug use among young people, as the agency launched a new radio station aimed at anti-drug advocacy.
Speaking at the commissioning of Clean Beat 91.5FM in Abuja, Marwa said the station would serve as a platform to counter narratives that portray substance abuse as fashionable or acceptable.
“We will counter the toxic pop-culture that glamourizes drug abuse by replacing it with a vibrant, alternative culture, one that celebrates sobriety, showcases real stories of recovery, and provides accurate, life-saving information,” he said.
Marwa warned that substance abuse was fuelling insecurity, damaging public health and weakening economic productivity in Nigeria.
“If we do not control the narrative today, the consequences tomorrow will be catastrophic,” he said.
The NDLEA chief said the agency’s fight against narcotics could not rely solely on arrests and prosecutions, stressing that education and prevention were essential to reducing demand for illicit drugs.
“While enforcement wins battles, education and prevention win wars,” he said.
According to him, the new station would broadcast anti-drug messages directly to Nigerians in homes, markets and workplaces, describing radio as an “incomparable asset” in public sensitisation campaigns.
Marwa said the project received support from Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Security Adviser and the National Broadcasting Commission, which approved the station’s frequency.
Representatives of the United Nations, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) commended the initiative at the event.
United Nations Country Representative Cheikh Ousmane Touré, represented by Dr. Akanidomo Ibanga, said the station reflected an innovative and people-centred approach to drug control by combining enforcement with advocacy and education.
NBC Director-General Charles Ebuebu said the station represented “the strategic deployment of broadcasting as an instrument of national orientation, behavioural change, youth engagement and social transformation.”
NOA Director-General Lanre Issa-Onilu, represented by Bala Musa, said the station would help drive positive behavioural change and citizen reorientation.