MINNA, Nigeria (Oct. 6, 2025) — The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd.), has called on all stakeholders developing Nigeria’s next National Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP 2026–2030) to ensure it addresses new and emerging threats fueling the illicit drug trade.
Marwa made the call on Monday in Minna, Niger State, while declaring open a five-day residential workshop organized to develop the fifth National Drug Control Master Plan. The retreat is funded by the ECOWAS Commission and supported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
“The task before us over the next few days is both strategic and historic,” Marwa said. “The drug problem continues to evolve, and so must our response. The NDCMP 2026–2030 must be visionary yet practical; comprehensive yet targeted; and nationally owned yet regionally and globally aligned. It must build on the achievements of the past while boldly addressing new and emerging threats, from synthetic drugs to dark-web trafficking, from poly-substance use to the illicit financial flows that sustain the drug trade.”
He reminded participants that the workshop presented a rare opportunity to deliberate on priorities that would shape Nigeria’s drug control strategy for the next five years. “It is here that we will identify what has worked, acknowledge the gaps, and design innovative pathways for the future,” he added.
Marwa reaffirmed the NDLEA’s commitment to providing leadership and technical support for effective implementation of the new plan, pledging to deepen collaboration with both domestic and regional partners. “We will continue to strengthen collaboration with our partners, both within Nigeria and across the ECOWAS sub-region, for we know that the drug challenge recognizes no borders,” he said.
He thanked the ECOWAS Commission for sponsoring the workshop, and acknowledged the support of the European Union, UNODC, civil society organizations, professional bodies, and the private sector. “Together, we are shaping a future where Nigeria and West Africa will be safer, healthier and more secure,” Marwa stated.
Speaking on behalf of UNODC, the organization’s Country Representative, Cheikh Ousmane, represented by Dr. Akanidomo Ibanga, commended Nigeria’s ongoing drug control efforts but stressed that global and regional dynamics continue to influence the local situation.
“Our response must therefore be adaptive, coordinated, and inclusive,” he said. “This workshop offers a unique opportunity to review the draft chapters, harmonize perspectives, and ensure that the priorities identified reflect both national realities and international standards, including those enshrined in the three international drug control conventions, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the African Union Plan of Action on Drug Control.”
The ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, Prof. Fatou Sow Sarr, represented by Dr. Daniel Amankwaah, emphasized Nigeria’s leading role in regional drug control initiatives and the need for a new strategy as the current master plan expires this year.
“The new NDCMP will effectively respond to current and future drug-related challenges,” Sarr said. “The ECOWAS Commission, in line with its mandate, is providing technical and financial assistance to Nigeria in developing the plan, ensuring it is robust, evidence-based, and aligned with regional and international best practices.”
Other stakeholders at the event included representatives from the Federal Ministries of Education, Health, Agriculture, Budget and Planning, as well as NACA, NAFDAC, EFCC, and NFIU.
