Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier-General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), says the Agency’s achievements are backed by an aggressive five-year campaign that has broken the spine of drug trafficking in the country with the arrest of no fewer than 234 drug barons coordinating the operations of major drug networks dismantled during the period.

He said in the last 18 months alone, the agency has made a total of 29,262 arrests, leading to the seizure of 5,305,484.88 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs valued at over N1.5 trillion and the conviction of 5,225 offenders.

“These numbers represent more than just data; they represent millions of lives saved, billions of naira in criminal wealth confiscated, and a future reclaimed for our youths.”

While noting that enforcement alone cannot solve the drug problem, Marwa said the NDLEA has aggressively expanded its Drug Demand Reduction (DDR) initiatives.

“Through our War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, we have conducted 6,645 drug use prevention focused sensitization and awareness creation programmes in schools, worship centres, work places, markets, motor parks and communities, and correctional facilities, among others, equipping nearly five million Nigerians with the life skills to resist drug abuse.”

“Equally significant is the counselling, treatment and rehabilitation of 13,508 drug users across our 31 rehab centres spread all over the country within the same period.”

Marwa said in line with this year’s focus on innovative responses, “we are strengthening our use of technology, deep-web intelligence gathering, and advanced data analytics to identify emerging drug trends before they hit the streets”, adding that “we are radically upgrading our forensic and chemical analysis capabilities to improve the detection of precursor chemicals and new, exotic psychoactive substances.

“Also important is our first in Africa Alternative Development Programme. This significant game-changing strategy is an initiative fully aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, adding that Alternative Development is about giving illicit cannabis growers an alternative source of legitimate income through the growing of licit crops like cassava, maize, cowpeas, cocoa, thereby achieving sustainable livelihoods and economic empowerment.”

However, President Bola Tinubu who was represented by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, said the federal government is confronting the drug challenges through a well-coordinated, multi-faceted approach.

The President said his administration remains committed to creating an environment in which young Nigerians can thrive and succeed.

“Through the Renewed Hope Agenda, we are expanding access to education, promoting skills development, supporting entrepreneurship, creating employment opportunities and implementing social interventions that address some of the underlying factors that make individuals vulnerable to substance abuse and criminal recruitment.”

“At the same time, we recognize that reducing demand must be matched by decisive action to disrupt supply. This requires stronger border management, enhanced surveillance of ports, airports, seaports and land crossings, improved intelligence gathering and closer collaboration among national, regional and international law enforcement agencies. Criminal organizations operate across borders, and our response must be equally coordinated and effective.”

The President noted that science, technology and reliable data have become indispensable tools in this effort, adding that “We must continue to strengthen our capacity to collect, analyse and apply data so that emerging trends are identified early, interventions are properly evaluated and strategic decisions are informed by facts.

“As illicit drug markets evolve, our ability to detect and identify drugs and precursor chemicals must evolve as well. Strengthening forensic laboratories, enhancing technological capabilities and supporting scientific research will remain essential if we are to stay ahead of emerging threats.

“Our criminal justice system must continue to receive the support it needs to deal effectively with drug-related crimes. Law enforcement officers, investigators, prosecutors and the courts all have important roles to play in ensuring that criminal organizations are disrupted and offenders are held accountable under the law.”

Meanwhile, in the NDLEA Inter-Secondary Schools Eassy Competition organised by the agency, the First position went to Ikpeamechi Jennifer of Federal Government Secondary School, Enugu, who went home with N500,000

The Second Position went to – Aliyu Kama of General Murtala Mohammed College, Yola Adamawa State, who won N300,000 and Chagoziem Ikechukwu of Mimshak Academy
Mbawi Isiala Ngwa North Abia State who got N200,000.