ABUJA, Nigeria (Chatnewstv.com) — The Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty Oba Abimbola Owoade, has assured the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) of strong support and collaboration in the nationwide fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.
Oba Owoade made the pledge during a courtesy visit to NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (ret.) at the agency’s national headquarters in Abuja on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. He was accompanied by two other traditional rulers, the Oloro of Oro, Oba Joel Olaniyan Olatoye, and the Olusin of Ijara Isin, Oba Ademola Julius Ajibola.
The traditional ruler was responding to an appeal by Marwa for the institutions of traditional leadership to join the crusade against drug abuse in the country, leveraging their influence at the grassroots level.
“I’ve heard your message and the same thing with some of my colleagues here and some of my other traditional rulers, we are ready to collaborate with you,” Oba Owoade said. “I have to tell you, we are at the grassroots, we are close to the community people. We know a lot about what’s going on.”
He emphasized the readiness of traditional leaders to work closely with the agency. “I’m using this opportunity to tell you that we are ready. We are more than ready to work with you and to give you all the necessary support to make sure that you are successful in this job,” Oba Owoade stated.
General Marwa stressed the urgent need for collaboration, noting the high rate of drug use in the country.
“The drug scourge in Nigeria is at an unacceptable limit and from the drug use survey report of 2018, we find that close to 15 million Nigerians aged 15 to 64 use drugs,” Marwa said. “It’s a big problem and we have been mandated by President Tinubu, to stand up, fight the drug scourge, arrest those responsible, prosecute them and seize their assets, the traffickers.”
Marwa highlighted the crucial role traditional rulers play in society.
“Nigerians respect the traditional institutions. Whoever you are in Nigeria, you still come from somewhere,” he said. “And so when the traditional leader speaks, it carries weight.”
He charged the royal fathers to engage religious leaders in their domains to promote serious advocacy against drug use. Marwa also requested traditional rulers to provide information about drug dealers in their communities, arguing that controlling drug use would inevitably lead to a reduction in criminality.
“If we are able to control drug use, even the criminalities will come down because all the people that are kidnappers and the insurgents, terrorists, bandits everywhere, they use drugs first to charge themselves up, to make them high,” he added.
Oba Owoade, who also congratulated Marwa on his appointment, praised the NDLEA boss’s track record.
“To be kind with you, we are proud of you. Your being in this position at the moment is not just by chance, it’s because of your devotion, your commitment,” the Alaafin said, noting Marwa’s amiable character and his legacy as a former governor of Borno and Lagos states. “Another thing which I can’t forget about you is the legacy of Keke Marwa that you brought to Nigeria.”
Marwa expressed appreciation for the visit and wished the Alaafin a long and prosperous reign.
