Tinubu Reaffirms Commitment To Drug War As NDLEA Records Major Breakthroughs
By Anne Osemekeh, Abuja
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to eliminating substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking through evidence-based, technology-driven interventions.
The President, represented by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), snare the reaffirmation on Friday in Abuja at the grand finale of activities marking the 2026 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, where he also commended the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for its sustained offensive against drug cartels.
Speaking on the theme, “The World Drug Problem: Persisting Issues, New Challenges, Innovative Responses,” Tinubu said the evolving nature of the global drug menace requires constant vigilance, stronger border management, enhanced surveillance of ports and airports, improved intelligence gathering, and closer collaboration among local and international law enforcement agencies. He added that science, technology, data analytics and strengthened forensic capabilities would remain critical in combating emerging drug threats.
The President also highlighted efforts under the Renewed Hope Agenda to tackle the underlying socio-economic factors driving substance abuse through expanded access to education, skills acquisition, entrepreneurship support and job creation. He praised the NDLEA under the leadership of Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.) for its achievements in both drug supply and demand reduction, saying the agency has earned Nigeria international recognition.
In his welcome address, the anti-narcotics agency’s Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa, said the NDLEA had recorded major operational successes through intelligence-led enforcement, dismantling transnational drug syndicates and executing record seizures across airports, seaports, land borders and remote forest locations.
He disclosed that recent operations led to the dismantling of the notorious Amadi Simon drug cartel through collaboration with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (US-DEA) and law enforcement agencies in Greece, France and Switzerland. He also announced the disruption of a cross-continental methamphetamine syndicate, resulting in the arrest of alleged drug baron Innocent Anochili, three Mexican nationals and six Nigerian accomplices.
Marwa further revealed that the agency recently uncovered another industrial-scale clandestine methamphetamine laboratory hidden in the forest at Tapa Village in Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State, where a Mexican national and four others were arrested and the facility dismantled.
According to him, the agency’s sustained five-year campaign has resulted in the arrest of 234 major drug barons and the dismantling of several drug trafficking networks. He added that in the last 18 months alone, the NDLEA arrested 29,262 suspects, seized over 5.3 million kilograms of assorted illicit drugs valued at more than ₦1.5 trillion, and secured the conviction of 5,225 offenders.
Maria said the agency has also intensified efforts to reduce drug demand through its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, conducting 6,645 sensitisation programmes that have reached nearly five million Nigerians, while providing counselling, treatment and rehabilitation for 13,508 drug users across its 31 rehabilitation centres nationwide.
He added that the NDLEA is increasingly deploying technology, deep-web intelligence and advanced data analytics to identify emerging drug trafficking trends and strengthen the country’s response to organised crime.
The event was attended by senior government officials and stakeholders, including representatives of the National Assembly, the Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Federal Capital Territory Administration, the MTN Foundation, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and other development partners.
