By Nkechi Eze
In Nigeria’s protracted battle against illicit drugs a silent driver of insecurity, social decay, and public health crises the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has scored another milestone. Backed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s strategic support, the Agency on Wednesday commissioned 48 new operational vehicles to bolster its nationwide mobility, extend its reach, and sharpen its response against the criminal networks that profit from the nation’s vulnerabilities.
The event, held at the NDLEA national headquarters in Abuja, brought together senior government officials, top security chiefs, and strategic partners, underscoring the central place of drug control in Nigeria’s national security framework. Beyond the symbolic act of unveiling new vehicles, the occasion was framed as a reaffirmation of political will, a demonstration that under the Renewed Hope Agenda, drug law enforcement is not a peripheral concern but a pillar of the country’s stability.
National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, speaking at the ceremony, left no doubt about the administration’s position. “The link between drug trafficking and insecurity is systemic,” he warned. “Criminal gangs thrive on drug profits, insurgents and armed groups fund their activities with it, and countless young Nigerians fall victim to addiction, with devastating consequences for families and communities.”
Ribadu commended NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), for transforming the Agency into a disciplined, focused, and results-driven institution. He emphasised that the President’s unwavering backing through funding, policy alignment, and inter-agency cooperation had directly enabled the day’s achievement. The newly commissioned vehicles, he said, would be deployed across Nigeria to “amplify NDLEA’s operational presence, strengthen deterrence, and ensure that no trafficker escapes justice.”
For Marwa, the day’s significance went beyond the hardware on display. In his welcome address, the NDLEA boss described the commissioning as “a milestone that places the Agency among a distinguished group of security and drug enforcement bodies worldwide that are not only visible in their operations but respected for their impact.” He credited President Tinubu’s administration with providing the fiscal muscle needed to sustain momentum in a fight where victories are often hard-won.
Marwa outlined the scale of that fight, pointing to both the human toll of addiction and the criminal ecosystem sustained by drug profits. “The link is undeniable: kidnapping, armed robbery, insurgency, and cult violence are all fuelled by illicit substances,” he said. “No serious approach to national security can ignore drug control, and this is why we pursue our mandate with focus and determination.”
Under Tinubu’s leadership, he revealed, the Agency has in just two years arrested 40,887 drug offenders, including 45 major barons; seized over 5.5 million kilograms of illicit substances; destroyed 704.445 hectares of cannabis farms hidden deep in forests; and secured 8,682 convictions, with assets of traffickers forfeited to the Federal Government. On the rehabilitation front, 24,173 drug users have received treatment in NDLEA’s 30 rehab centres, while the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign has conducted 8,698 sensitisation activities nationwide.
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, reinforced the link between drug control and crime prevention. “There is a very, very close nexus between drug trafficking and all the crimes we have,” he said, praising Marwa’s leadership and declaring NDLEA a showcase agency when assessing government performance.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, hailed the commissioning as a “significant boost” to NDLEA’s operational capability, while Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, lauded the Agency for its transparency, confirming that the vehicles had passed stringent due process and were “fit for purpose.”
Of the 48 vehicles commissioned, 38 SUVs were allocated to Zonal, Strategic, and State Commands nationwide, while 10 sedans went to NDLEA directorates. The ceremony also featured the decoration of 15 newly promoted Commanders of Narcotics (CN) with the rank of Assistant Commander General of Narcotics (ACGN).
The event ended with a clear message that; the drug war remains a national priority, and under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, NDLEA will not be left to fight it alone. With stronger mobility, better coordination, and unwavering political will, the Agency is positioning itself not only to intercept drugs but to dismantle the networks and ideologies that sustain Nigeria’s most insidious threat.
