The Federal Government t has commissioned the first barracks for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), thirty-five years after its establishment.
The commissioning took place on Tuesday, 18th February, 2025, in Yola, the Adamawa state capital.
The barracks will provide office and residential accommodation for officers, men and women of the anti-narcotics body with a charge to the personnel that the well-deserved investment in their welfare was a call to higher responsibility and unwavering dedication to duty.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, said the facility, which includes modern administrative offices, detention facilities, secure storage, and residential accommodations, is not just a physical structure but a critical investment in human capital and a testament to the President Bola Tinubu administration’s resolve to create an environment where NDLEA officers and their families can live and thrive with dignity and security.
“The role of NDLEA in our society cannot be overstated. The fight against drug abuse is a fight for our nation’s future. It is a battle to protect our youth from the devastating effects of substance abuse and to rid our communities of the violence and destruction that often accompany the illegal drug trade. This barracks, therefore, is more than a place of residence; it is a fortress of resilience and a beacon of hope for our nation’s future.
Justice Fagbemi gave reassurances of his continued commitment to supporting the work that you do, adding that the assurances were based on his personal conviction of the intersection between justice and law enforcement.
“This facility is a critical component of the rule of law, ensuring that those who are tasked with upholding our laws are protected, empowered, and equipped to carry out their duties. It reinforces the principle that justice begins with those who enforce it, and it is our collective responsibility to provide them with necessary resources to carry out their responsibilities effectively.”
He urged NDLEA officers who will inhabit the facility to remain steadfast in their service to their motherland as the nation looks to them “not only as enforcers of the law, but as protectors of our shared hope for a safer, healthier society”.
Justice Fagbemi further averred that the facility, an investment in the welfare of NDLEA staff, is a call to higher responsibility, one that requires unwavering dedication and resolute commitment.
The minister commended former President Muhammadu Buhari under whose leadership the project was approved and set in motion. He also praised President Bola Tinubu for aiding the dream into fruition, and Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa state, for his exemplary cooperation and support in ensuring that the project was executed in a conducive and harmonious environment, even as he appreciated the support of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, towards the operational successes of NDLEA.
In his remarks, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) emphasized the significance of the barracks project to the safety of the Agencys personnel 35 years after its establishment.
He said over the years, before the barracks, the absence of dedicated accommodation for the agency’s officers has led to challenges, including exposure to risks for them and their families, as tragically, quite a number of them have been trailed to their houses and murdered. Such incidents, he said, emphasises the urgency of providing secure housing for personnel.
Marwa expressed profound gratitude to the president for his continued support and belief in the NDLEA mandate, saying that they are all inspired by his administration’s unwavering commitment to improving security, strengthening institutions, and ensuring the welfare of law enforcement personnel.
Speaking on the project, Marwa revealed that the facility, situated on an 18-hectare site in Kwanan Waya, reflects the anti-narcotics agency’s commitment to the safety, welfare, and operational efficiency of her personnel.
The Yola Barracks includes office structures, accommodation and auxiliary facilities. The office structures consist of a modern administrative building for the NDLEA Adamawa State Command, a detention facility, a state-of-the-art exhibit room, watchtowers, and operational pavilions. The accommodation includes lodges for the state and zonal commanders, 80 one-bedroom terrace flats, 120 two-bedroom semi-detached flats, and 60 three-bedroom semi-detached flats.
He revealed further that the auxiliary facilities comprised enhanced security features, a generator house for uninterrupted power supply, parking spaces, a parade ground, a service bay, and a perimeter fence.
“This state-of-the-art facility is a testament to our resolve to win the fight against drug abuse and trafficking in Nigeria. It symbolises our commitment to the welfare of our personnel and serves as a bold statement of our determination to build a safer nation”, he stated.
In his message at the occasion, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri commended President Tinubu, Marwa and other stakeholders for their foresight, vision, and commitment to the barracks project.
He noted that the facility is a testament of NDLEA’s unwavering dedication to save-guarding the nation and its people, particularly the youth, who are the nation’s valuable assets and leaders of tomorrow, from the many illicit drugs.
The establishment of the facility, Governor Fintiri said, is not merely about bricks and mortar, but “about fortifying our determination and collective resolve to protect our prosperity from the threat of illicit drugs towards peace and stability”.
The National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, in his remarks presented by AIG Rex Dundun, said the milestone underscores the federal government’s commitment to providing a conducive environment for national security agencies to thrive, adding that the NDLEA plays a critical role in safeguarding our nation’s health, safety and well-being by combating the menace of drug trafficking and abuse.
While commending the NDLEA Chairman and his management team for their tireless efforts in leading the charge against drug trafficking and abuse in Nigeria, the NSA urged them to continue demonstrating exceptional courage, resilience and professionalism in the discharge of their duties.
Also speaking, Chairman Senate Committee Chairman on Drugs and Narcotics, Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo, noted that the job of the officers and operatives in the NDLEA requires a mix of humanity, detection and enforcement, which requires the provision of adequate motivation for the workforce.
“Hence, this project will collectively, among other things, build a seamless organization which is people-centered, motivating the workforce, creating job satisfaction, and also address service delivery challenges.”
House of Reps Committee Chairman on Narcotic Drugs, Hon. Abass Adigun, represented by the deputy chairman of the committee, Hon. Idris Dankawu said that ensuring the safety, security, and welfare of NDLEA personnel is not just a responsibility but a necessity, adding that the House of Representatives remains “steadfast in advocating for a better funding, improving working conditions, and enhancing operational capacity for the Agency”.
Other dignitaries at the ceremony include former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Senator Francis Fadahunsi, members of the National Assembly from Adamawa state, first class traditional rulers from across the state, among others.
