The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) has issued a call to action for Nigerian elites to support the agency’s campaign against substance abuse and drug trafficking.
According to a statement sent to Africa Health Report (AHR) on Tuesday by the Director of media and advocacy, NDLEA in Abuja, Marwa emphasized the urgent need for a whole-of-society approach to tackle the growing drug crisis.
Speaking at the Island Club Business Forum, Marwa highlighted that the battle against drug abuse cannot be left to the government alone, urging all Nigerians to become stakeholders.
“This is not a challenge for government alone. All of us are stakeholders on this issue and it is an assignment for all Nigerians. The future of Nigeria belongs to us all,” he said.
Marwa pointed to the significant strides made by the NDLEA over the past three years, including the arrest of 52,901 traffickers, 52 of whom were high-profile barons, and the conviction of 9,034 individuals.
He noted that the agency has seized 8.6 million kilograms of various illicit drugs and destroyed 1,572 hectares of cannabis farms.
He stressed that the involvement of elites and influential members of society is crucial to amplifying the NDLEA’s impact, noting that some arrested individuals were notable figures, including business leaders and government officials.
The NDLEA chief’s call for support is driven by a projection from the 2021 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) World Drug Report, which predicted a 40% increase in drug use in Africa by 2030, particularly among those aged 25 to 34.
“If we read the statistics correctly, the world’s biggest drug problem of the future could be in Africa,” Marwa warned, adding that the future could be one of prosperity or peril depending on current actions to curb the trend.
Marwa urged Nigerians to advocate against drug abuse, stressing that community involvement is essential for preventing young people from experimenting with substances.
“The simplest role is one of advocacy. By spreading the message, we can all become anti-drug abuse advocates,” he said.
The Island Club Chairman, Omoba Rotimi Olasode Martins, praised Marwa’s dedication to the anti-drug cause, acknowledging that drug abuse has permeated all layers of society, destabilizing families and hindering socio-economic development.
Martins called for community-driven efforts and sustainable solutions to complement enforcement and legislation.
The forum also featured remarks from experts, including Prof Harry Ladapo, a consultant psychiatrist, and Prof Lere Baale, President of the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy, who emphasized the importance of holistic approaches to address the root causes of drug abuse.
