NDLEA warns of rising drug threat, unveils new control plan

The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, retired Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, says while Nigeria may celebrate milestones recorded over the past five years, the country must also confront the “sobering reality” of a mutating drug threat.

Marwa made the remarks at the opening session of a two-day National Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP) Consultative Forum organised by the agency on Monday in Abuja.

He said UNODC projections suggest a 40 per cent spike in drug use across Africa by 2030, while recent reports from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime (GI-TOC) indicate that West Africa remains a high-pressure corridor for cocaine flows between Latin America and Europe.

He added that Nigeria’s drug landscape was becoming increasingly complex due to the surge in synthetic substances, prescription drug abuse, poly-drug use, and New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), as well as the digitalisation of the drug trade through encrypted platforms and dark-web operations.

As Africa’s most populous nation and largest economy, Nigeria cannot afford to be a passive observer. The risks to our youth, our workforce, and our national security are too high.

“This forum is therefore our battle room for the next five years. Our primary objective is to finalise the Zero Draft of the NDCMP 2026–2030, a roadmap built on the rigorous summative evaluation of our previous cycle.

“The new plan introduces two critical pillars to our strategy, that is: the Alternative Development and Sustainable Livelihoods that addresses the socio-economic drivers of the drug trade.

This is also as well as disrupting the illicit drug economy, using financial intelligence to choke the lifeblood of trafficking networks,” he said.

Marwa acknowledged the support of local and international partners, especially the UNODC and ECOWAS, in the development of the 2026–2030 NDCMP draft.

He urged participants to recognise that the drug problem is not an abstract concept but a daily reality in homes, schools, and communities.

“We are here not just as policy-makers and experts, but as parents, citizens, and guardians of the next generation. Despite our different backgrounds, our goal is singular and that is a drug-free Nigeria.

“I urge you to use the next two days to think boldly. Challenge the status quo, propose innovations. Your inputs will determine the trajectory of our nation’s safety for the next half-decade.

“I look forward to a final NDCMP 2026–2030 that stands as a roadmap of hope and promise for a safer, healthier Nigeria,” Marwa added.

In his goodwill message, Mr Cheikh Toure, Country Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), called for stronger community-based participation in Nigeria’s drug control efforts.

Toure said effective responses to drug abuse and trafficking cannot be achieved from the centre alone.

He commended the NDLEA for leading the consultative process, noting that Nigeria’s drug challenge is becoming increasingly complex and expanding in scope.

He said drug control in a country with 36 states, the FCT and 774 local government areas must be driven at community level to be effective.

“State and local governments must take ownership of the response by providing funding, integrating drug control priorities into development plans, and ensuring services reach grassroots communities,” he said.

Toure described the NDCMP as an opportunity to align responsibilities across all levels of government and strengthen coordination for real impact.

He stressed that without such commitment, even the strongest national strategy may not deliver the desired results.

He also called for greater inclusion of young people in drug control policies, describing them as both a vulnerable group and key partners in prevention and response efforts.

He further emphasised gender inclusion, noting that women and girls face unique vulnerabilities but remain central to prevention, treatment, and community resilience.

In her remarks, Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, commended the NDLEA for its sustained commitment, professionalism, and proactive approach in tackling drug abuse and illicit trafficking in Nigeria.

She said the agency’s efforts in advocacy, enforcement, rehabilitation, and stakeholder collaboration continue to make a meaningful impact in protecting communities and restoring hope to affected individuals and families.

“As we work collectively to develop a robust and responsive National Drug Control Master Plan, it is important that we adopt a holistic and multi-sectoral approach that integrates education, healthcare, law enforcement, community engagement, and social support systems.

“Such collaboration is essential to addressing both the root causes and consequences of substance abuse in our society.

“I therefore urge participants at this forum to engage constructively, share valuable insights, and develop practical recommendations that will strengthen Nigeria’s drug control framework and ensure a sustainable outcome for future generations,” she said.