My second NDLEA tenure will be hell for drug traffickers — Marwa

My Second NDLEA Tenure Will Be Hell for Drug Traffickers - Marwa

Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retired), the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has declared that his reappointment for a second five-year tenure will usher in an intensified war against drug trafficking and abuse across the country.

Speaking at the NDLEA National Headquarters in Abuja on November 15, 2025, shortly after President Bola Tinubu confirmed his reappointment, Marwa promised that drug barons, traffickers, and cannabis cultivators will face unprecedented crackdowns.

Marwa described his renewed mandate as a continuation of the agency’s offensive against illicit drug networks, warning traffickers that “this second tenure is going to be hell and bleak for them. Drugs shall not pass, in or out or within Nigeria.” He emphasized that the NDLEA will not only arrest offenders but also seize their drugs and confiscate their assets, leaving them with nothing upon release from prison. His message was clear: traffickers must abandon the criminal trade and embrace legitimate livelihoods.

To support this transition, Marwa highlighted the NDLEA’s Alternative Development Unit, which is designed to help offenders move into legal businesses. However, he stressed that those who refuse to comply will face dire consequences. He urged traffickers to “drop that criminal business and face something legitimate,” making it clear that the agency is fully prepared to enforce the law without compromise.

Marwa also announced an expansion of the NDLEA’s rehabilitation and prevention programs. He revealed that the agency currently operates 30 rehabilitation centers nationwide and that seven new centers will be established under the 2025 budget, ensuring that every state will have its own facility. This expansion is part of a broader drug-demand reduction strategy that includes prevention, sensitization, counseling, treatment, and rehabilitation. He further noted the approval of mandatory drug tests for students upon admission into tertiary institutions, a measure aimed at curbing addiction early.

In his address, Marwa expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for the reappointment, as well as to the NDLEA workforce for their dedication despite the risks they face daily. He acknowledged the support of top government officials, including the Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, and the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, alongside international partners who collaborate with Nigeria in the fight against illicit substances.

Reflecting on his first tenure, Marwa reminded the audience that he had vowed to make the NDLEA feared by drug cartels, a promise he believes has already begun to materialize. His second tenure, he assured, will intensify this fear and further dismantle drug networks nationwide.

Marwa’s reappointment signals a renewed and uncompromising offensive against drug trafficking in Nigeria. His vision combines strict enforcement with rehabilitation and prevention, aiming not only to punish offenders but also to reduce demand and protect future generations from the scourge of drug abuse. His message to traffickers was unequivocal: abandon the trade now or face a relentless NDLEA determined to make their operations impossible.