ABUJA (CHATNEWSTV) — Nigeria’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), have expressed confidence that the recently amended NDLEA Act will significantly strengthen the country’s fight against drug abuse and illicit trafficking once it receives presidential assent.
“In the past four years, we have witnessed unprecedented efforts by the NDLEA,” Fagbemi said in a statement delivered at the opening of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Drug Control (IMC) meeting in Abuja on Wednesday. “These achievements include arrests, seizures, convictions, and far-reaching evidence-based interventions, especially through the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) platform. NDLEA has sustained the fight with renewed energy and vigor, giving hope to a once hopeless situation.”
The minister, represented by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mohammed Abubakar, said the Federal Ministry of Justice has worked closely with the NDLEA to ensure that the agency’s legal framework is robust enough to support drug control. He noted that the amended law will enhance NDLEA’s organizational capabilities and also address proceeds of crime, crucial to dismantling drug trafficking networks.
Calling for a united front, Fagbemi urged stakeholders to expand prevention programs, especially targeting youth, women, and vulnerable groups. “Let us leave this meeting with a renewed commitment to protecting our youth, securing our communities, and building a healthier, safer Nigeria,” he said.
Marwa, in his own remarks, acknowledged funding constraints but emphasized the agency’s unwavering resolve. “One such step that gives us hope is the amendment of the NDLEA Act,” he said. “It is expected to significantly strengthen the Agency’s institutional capacity in drug supply reduction. The amended Act has been passed by the National Assembly and is currently awaiting Presidential assent.”
Reviewing progress under the National Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP 2021–2025), Marwa disclosed that 31,334 drug offenders were arrested in 2023–2024, with 6,839 convictions secured. A total of 4.3 million kilograms of illicit drugs were seized, and over 426 hectares of cannabis farms were destroyed. On the demand reduction side, the agency counseled and rehabilitated over 19,000 individuals and intensified awareness campaigns nationwide.
UNODC Country Representative Cheikh Ousmane Toure, represented by Dr. Akani Ibanga, warned that Nigeria’s drug use crisis poses both public health and national security threats.
“With at least three million Nigerians suffering from drug use disorder, we contribute 7.5% to the global burden,” he said. “That’s worrisome, and it calls for steadfast implementation of the NDCMP.”
The meeting brought together key actors in Nigeria’s drug control ecosystem, with renewed calls for coordination, data-driven approaches, and sustainable commitment to the nation’s anti-drug campaign.
