By Nkechi Eze
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), has called on Nigerians across all strata of society to take full ownership of the fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking, as activities for the 2025 World Drug Day were unveiled in Abuja on Wednesday, June 18.
An official signed statement by Femi BabaFemi, Director Media and Advocacy disclosed that speaking during a joint press conference at the NDLEA headquarters, the Agency’s Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), emphasized the need for collective responsibility in curbing the scourge of drug abuse. According to him, while the agency remains committed to its core mandate, efforts to reduce the demand for drugs require active involvement from the general public, communities, families, institutions, and state governments.
“As we enter another United Nations year focused on prevention, it is vital to stress that the responsibility of shielding our citizens from harmful substances does not rest solely on the shoulders of the NDLEA. It is a collective duty,” Marwa stated.
He revealed that this year’s campaign will operate under the global theme: “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention.” The theme, he said, will drive the agency’s advocacy campaigns, stakeholder engagements, and community outreach efforts in the months ahead.
A weeklong schedule of events has been outlined to mark the 2025 World Drug Day, beginning with the press briefing. Highlights include a Juma’at service at the National Mosque on Friday, June 20, a Walk Against Drug Abuse on Saturday, June 21 in partnership with MTN Foundation and University of Abuja, and a Thanksgiving Service at MFM Church, Wuye on Sunday, June 22.
On Monday, June 23, schoolchildren will participate in the final stage of an essay competition titled “Why I Must Not Take Drugs,” at the NDLEA Conference Room in Abuja. The day will also feature activities led by NGOs, with a focus on prevention and youth engagement.
Tuesday, June 24, will be dedicated to reaching out-of-school youth, with outreach campaigns in markets and motor parks across the Federal Capital Territory’s Area Councils. The commemorative week will culminate on Thursday, June 26, with the World Drug Day Grand Finale at the State House Conference Centre, starting at 9 a.m.
Marwa also highlighted the agency’s recent accomplishments, including significant arrests, convictions, and drug seizures. He noted that innovations such as the use of body cameras have now been fully integrated into NDLEA operations. He further disclosed that the agency has commissioned new facilities, including barracks in Yola and Abuja, and a rehabilitation centre in Kano.
Representing the UNODC Country Representative, Cheikh Ousman Toure, at the event was the Deputy Head of UNODC in Nigeria, Danilo Campisi, who commended the NDLEA’s work and called on state governments to increase their collaboration with the agency.
Campisi stressed that drug trafficking fuels other forms of organized crime, including human trafficking, illegal mining, environmental degradation, and terrorism. “Stopping drug trafficking requires long-term coordinated action… We will not make significant progress if interventions continue to be centralized,” he warned.
He reiterated the UNODC’s continued support for Nigeria in areas such as forensic and border management, intelligence sharing, and joint investigations. “We stand in solidarity with the Nigerian government, civil society, and communities in the fight to dismantle criminal chains, prevent addiction, and restore dignity through recovery,” Campisi said.
The event marked a unified front between national and international actors in the global campaign to prevent drug abuse and promote healthier, safer societies.
