…Highlights Nigeria’s Successes and Strategic Interventions in Global Drug War
By Nkechi Eze
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has called on the international community to unite and take decisive, coordinated action to dismantle transnational criminal drug networks threatening global peace, security, and development.
Marwa made the call while addressing the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Plenary Session of the Third Committee in New York, United States, on Monday, October 13, 2025. Speaking on behalf of Nigeria, the NDLEA boss said the world can no longer allow itself to be held hostage by the illicit drug trade that fuels instability and undermines collective progress.
“The world can no longer be held hostage by the illicit drug trade. We must stand together, resolute and united to dismantle the networks that threaten our peace, stability, and collective future,” Marwa declared.
According to a statement signed by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA Chairman commended the theme of this year’s UNGA session for rightly recognizing the global drug problem as a multidimensional challenge requiring coordinated, evidence-based, and collective international responses.
Marwa noted that Nigeria has adopted a comprehensive, strategic, and evidence-driven approach to curb the menace, emphasizing both supply reduction and demand control. He said the country’s current efforts are guided by the effective implementation of the National Drug Control Master Plan, which has strengthened collaboration among relevant stakeholders and produced measurable results.
“In Nigeria, we have strengthened measures against money laundering linked to drug proceeds while expanding care and support for individuals affected by drug use through treatment in rehabilitation centres, opioid substitution therapy, and safer needle exchange programmes,” he stated.
Highlighting the country’s international cooperation framework, Marwa explained that Nigeria continues to prioritize intelligence sharing and cross-border collaboration as vital tools for success in the global drug war.
“Given the transnational nature of the drug problem, Nigeria prioritizes international cooperation and intelligence sharing. We have signed memoranda of understanding with several countries and maintain strong partnerships with the UNODC, EU, DEA, INL, NCA, BKA, and others. These collaborations have led to major seizures, arrests of high-profile traffickers, and successful prosecutions, all with full regards to human rights,” he said.
The NDLEA Chief Executive further underscored Nigeria’s commitment to tackling both traditional and emerging drug challenges. He revealed that cannabis remains the most commonly abused drug in the country, but the government has taken proactive steps through the Alternative Development Programme, which engages local communities to replace illicit cannabis cultivation with legitimate and sustainable livelihoods that also promote food security and environmental protection.
“Our War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative continues to mobilize all sectors of society in nationwide sensitization, reinforcing collective responsibility in protecting families and communities from the dangers of drug abuse,” Marwa added.
He also addressed the issue of emerging threats such as new psychoactive substances and the growing use of the Dark Web for trafficking, emphasizing that Nigeria is intensifying efforts to dismantle methamphetamine laboratories and prevent the diversion of precursor chemicals used in illicit production.
In advancing social justice and expanding access to treatment, Marwa disclosed that Nigeria operates a 24-hour toll-free drug call centre, staffed by professionals offering counselling in major Nigerian languages. This, he said, bridges the treatment gap and helps combat the stigma associated with drug use.
The NDLEA Chairman reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering resolve to collaborate with the global community in building a world free from the scourge of drug trafficking and abuse.
“With unity, shared intelligence, and mutual commitment, we can defeat this threat and secure a safer, healthier, and more just world for future generations,” Marwa concluded.
