The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have unveiled a weeklong programme of activities to commemorate the 2026 World Drug Day, while reaffirming their commitment to strengthening efforts against drug trafficking, abuse and organised criminal networks.
Speaking at a joint press briefing held at the NDLEA National Headquarters in Abuja on Friday, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), said the agency would sustain its offensive against drug cartels by targeting not only traffickers but also the financial structures that sustain their operations.
Represented by the Secretary of the Agency, Mr. Shadrach Haruna, Marwa described the annual observance of World Drug Day on June 26 as an important platform for reviewing ongoing anti-drug strategies and setting the policy direction for the year ahead.
Addressing the theme of the 2026 World Drug Day, “The World Drug Problem: Persisting Issues, New Challenges, Innovative Responses,” Marwa noted that the global drug landscape continues to evolve with the emergence of synthetic substances, sophisticated trafficking networks and digital illicit markets.
He said the changing nature of the threat demands proactive, technology-driven and innovative responses from governments, law enforcement agencies and stakeholders.
According to him, the NDLEA has continued to modernise its operations while balancing enforcement activities with robust public enlightenment and preventive campaigns through its flagship War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative.
Marwa explained that the weeklong commemoration commenced on Friday, June 19, with a joint press conference and a special Juma’at prayer service at the National Mosque, Abuja. He added that a Walk Against Drugs, organised in partnership with Baze University, Nile University and the MTN Foundation, would hold on Saturday, June 20.
Other activities lined up for the week include a thanksgiving church service on Sunday, a national essay competition for students on Monday, an NGO engagement programme on Tuesday and a Youth Out-of-School Campaign across selected Federal Capital Territory Area Councils on Wednesday.
The celebrations will culminate in a grand finale on Friday, June 26, at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, where top government officials, diplomats and international stakeholders are expected to unveil new policy frameworks aimed at addressing emerging dimensions of the global drug challenge.
Highlighting recent achievements of the agency, Marwa said the WADA programme, launched in 2021, has evolved into a comprehensive whole-of-society approach that has successfully mobilised communities and citizens as active partners in the fight against drug abuse.
He also noted that the agency’s enforcement operations, launched under its “Offensive Action” initiative in January 2021, have led to the dismantling of major drug syndicates, the arrest and prosecution of high-profile traffickers and unprecedented conviction rates.
“We are not just arresting traffickers; we are liquidating their financial empires,” he said, noting that the agency has increasingly deployed the Proceeds of Crime Act to identify, seize and forfeit assets linked to drug crimes.
The NDLEA boss expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his continued support and acknowledged the contributions of state governments, international partners and domestic security agencies in strengthening Nigeria’s anti-drug campaign.
He specifically commended the support of the UNODC, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), the United Kingdom’s Home Office International Operations, Border Force and National Crime Agency, as well as French and German law enforcement authorities.
Marwa also praised the collaboration between the NDLEA and other Nigerian security and regulatory agencies, including the Armed Forces, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Immigration Service, NAFDAC, Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, Federal Road Safety Corps and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
In his remarks, the UNODC Country Representative, Mr. Cheikh Ousmane Toure, represented by the Deputy Country Representative, Mr. Danielo Campisi, said the global drug problem remains dynamic and requires sustained collaboration among governments, international organisations and civil society.
Campisi observed that Nigeria faces the dual challenge of addressing long-standing drug-related concerns while adapting to emerging threats and changing trafficking patterns.
He stressed that no single institution can effectively tackle the problem alone and called for stronger partnerships, shared responsibility and innovative approaches.
The UNODC official reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting Nigeria through evidence-based interventions, innovation, human-centred strategies and enhanced international cooperation.
He expressed confidence that through collective action and sustained commitment, Nigeria and its partners can strengthen their response to the world drug problem and build safer and healthier communities.
