The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has called on Nigerians to unite against what he described as a toxic pop culture promoting illicit drug abuse among young people.
Marwa made the call on Thursday at the official launch of the anti-narcotics agency’s radio station, Clean Beat 91.5FM, in Abuja.
Speaking during the commissioning, Marwa said the platform would serve as a strategic tool in the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, aimed at reshaping public perception and protecting the nation’s youth from substance abuse.
According to him, the station represents more than the launch of a new broadcast platform, describing it as “a powerful, relentless voice” for national security, community survival, and youth development.
Marwa stressed that while law enforcement plays a key role in combating drug trafficking and abuse, education and prevention remain the ultimate weapons in winning the wider war against addiction.
“We recognize that behind every statistic of drug abuse is a human being — a vulnerable teenager seeking escape, a broken family searching for answers, or a brilliant mind capable of redemption,” he said.
He added that the radio station would counter narratives that glamorize drug abuse by promoting sobriety, recovery stories, and accurate public education.
The NDLEA boss warned that substance abuse poses grave threats to national security, public health, and economic productivity, noting that failure to confront the growing culture could have devastating consequences for the country’s future workforce.
Marwa also described radio as a powerful medium capable of reaching citizens directly in homes, markets, schools, and during daily commutes, saying the station was conceived to engage Nigerians at the grassroots level.
He thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the station’s budget, while also acknowledging the support of the National Security Adviser, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), international partners, and NDLEA personnel who worked to bring the project to reality.
Calling on young Nigerians to embrace the initiative, Marwa urged them to become ambassadors of the anti-drug movement and help “rewrite the story” of the nation’s future.
In goodwill messages at the event, United Nations Country Representative, Cheikh Ousmane Touré, represented by Dr. Akanidomo Ibanga, commended the NDLEA for adopting innovative and people-focused advocacy strategies.
