By HeapNews
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has called on Nigerian elites to play a pivotal role in combating substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking. Speaking at the Island Club Business Forum in Lagos, Marwa emphasized the importance of a “whole-of-society” approach in addressing the drug crisis. “This is not a challenge for the government alone,” Marwa stated. “All of us are stakeholders on this issue, and it is an assignment for all Nigerians. The future of Nigeria belongs to us all.”
Highlighting the agency’s achievements since his appointment three years ago, Marwa shared staggering statistics: over 52,901 traffickers arrested, including 52 drug barons, 9,034 convictions, and the seizure of 8.6 million kilograms of illicit drugs. The NDLEA has also destroyed 1,572 hectares of cannabis farms. “These arrests include prominent individuals—business moguls, socialites, and even government officials. That tells how deeply the rot has eaten into the fabric of our society,” Marwa noted.
He warned about the forecasted rise in drug use across Africa, citing a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report predicting a 40% increase in drug use by 2030. “Tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today,” he urged. “The future could be bright or bleak depending on the work we do now. The Island Club can also join in this effort to safeguard our society from the drug menace.”
In his welcome remarks, Omoba Rotimi Olasode Martins, Chairman of the Island Club, praised Marwa’s unwavering commitment to combating drug abuse. “Drug abuse has infiltrated every layer of our society, threatening our youth, destabilizing families, and undermining our socio-economic fabric. Together, we can create a Nigeria where our young people can thrive, free from the shadows of addiction,” he said.
Guest speakers at the event included Prof. Harry Ladapo, a consultant psychiatrist, and Prof. Lere Baale, President of the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy, who both underscored the devastating impact of drug abuse and the urgent need for collective action.