The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has urged traditional rulers across Nigeria to take the lead in mobilising grassroots support against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking, describing royal fathers as indispensable partners in protecting communities from the growing drug menace.
According to an official statement signed by the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, Marwa made the call on Saturday, 25 July 2026, while speaking as Chairman at the 10th Anniversary of Akinale Day and the First Coronation Anniversary of Oba Oluseyi Ayodeji Adewole Adediran, Otileta I, Towulade of Owu Akinale, held at Baptist Primary School, Owu Akinale, Ogun State.
The NDLEA Chairman said the Agency alone cannot win the war against drugs without the active involvement of traditional institutions, whose influence at the community level remains critical to preventing drug abuse and curbing illicit drug trafficking.
“The NDLEA cannot win the war against drugs without the partnership of traditional institutions and monarchs who understand the dynamics of their communities and the aspirations of their youths,” Marwa said.
He called on royal fathers and community leaders to establish community-based advocacy networks that would make their domains hostile to drug traffickers while providing support for individuals battling substance use disorders.
Marwa also urged parents to play a more active role in raising their children by paying closer attention to their behaviour and identifying early warning signs of drug abuse.
“Drug abuse does not discriminate. It affects the rich and the poor, the young and the old, as well as urban and rural communities. Parents must return to the core values of parenting by closely monitoring their children and watching for behavioural changes,” he stated.
The NDLEA boss appealed directly to young Nigerians to shun illicit drugs, warning that substance abuse offers only temporary relief while creating more devastating personal, social and economic consequences.
Speaking against the backdrop of the recent discovery of industrial-scale clandestine methamphetamine laboratories allegedly operated by a Nigerian-Mexican cartel in the forests of Ogun and Oyo states, Marwa charged traditional rulers, particularly in the South-West, to remain vigilant and closely monitor activities within their communities.
He urged community leaders to ensure that strangers operating in forest areas are properly identified and that individuals seeking to acquire farmlands in rural communities undergo thorough vetting.
“Our forests and rural communities must not become safe havens for criminal networks. Traditional rulers have a critical responsibility to monitor activities within their domains and work closely with security agencies to prevent such threats,” he said.
Marwa, who described his attendance at the event as “a pilgrimage of friendship, respect and deep-seated admiration,” also paid tribute to the Towulade of Owu Akinale, Oba Oluseyi Ayodeji Adewole Adediran, recalling a relationship that dates back nearly two decades to the monarch’s days as leader of the Lisabi Youths.
He commended the monarch’s leadership qualities, expressing confidence that the same dedication that distinguished him as a youth leader would continue to promote peace and development during his reign.
The anniversary celebration was attended by political leaders, eminent traditional rulers and other dignitaries from within and outside Ogun State.
