Marwa Urges Nigerian Elites to Join Fight Against Drug Abuse, Trafficking

Marwa Urges Nigerian Elites to Join Fight Against Drug Abuse, Trafficking 

.....Calls for Collective Action at Island Club Business Forum  

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has called on Nigeria’s elites to support the agency’s comprehensive strategy to combat substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking. Marwa made the appeal during his keynote address at the Island Club Business Forum held in Lagos on Tuesday, November 19, 2024.  

Speaking to a distinguished audience of business leaders, students, and parents, Marwa emphasized that the fight against drug abuse requires a “whole-of-society” approach, urging all Nigerians to take ownership of the issue.  

“This is not a challenge for the government alone,” Marwa stated. “The future of Nigeria belongs to all of us, and everyone has a role to play. Advocacy is the simplest and most powerful tool we have. By spreading the message about the dangers of drug misuse, we can all become anti-drug advocates and shield lives from the devastation caused by illicit drugs.”  

Highlighting the achievements of the NDLEA under his leadership, Marwa revealed that over the past three years, the agency has arrested 52,901 traffickers, including 52 drug barons, and secured 9,034 convictions. During this period, 8.6 million kilograms of illicit drugs were seized, and 1,572 hectares of cannabis farms were destroyed.  

“These statistics show the scale of the problem,” Marwa said. “The drug barons we have arrested include influential figures such as business tycoons, socialites, and even government officials tasked with maintaining law and order. This highlights how deeply drug-related corruption has penetrated our society.”  

He also raised concerns about the growing threat of drug abuse, citing the 2021 UNODC World Drug Report, which predicts a 40% increase in drug use in Africa by 2030, particularly among young adults aged 25 to 34.  

“The future of Africa, and Nigeria in particular, depends on the steps we take today to curb this trend,” Marwa warned. “The world’s biggest drug problem could soon be in Africa. The future can be bright or bleak, a boom or gloom, depending on our actions now.”  

Expert Contributions and Community Support

The forum also featured insights from Prof. Harry Ladapo, a consultant psychiatrist, and Prof. Lere Baale, President of the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy, who both underscored the urgent need for collective action against drug abuse.  

In his opening remarks, Omoba Rotimi Olasode Martins, Chairman of the Island Club, lauded Marwa’s dedication to tackling drug abuse and urged Nigerians to view the fight as a shared responsibility.  

“Drug abuse threatens every layer of our society, destabilizing families and undermining our nation’s socio-economic fabric,” Martins said. “This forum reflects Island Club’s mission to foster meaningful discourse and solutions-driven dialogue. Together, we can build a Nigeria where young people thrive, free from the shadows of addiction.”  

The event highlighted the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration in addressing drug-related challenges and reaffirmed the NDLEA’s commitment to a safer and drug-free Nigeria.  

Femi Babafemi  

Director, Media & Advocacy  

NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja  

Tuesday, November 19, 2024