Amendment of NDLEA Act Will Strengthen Nigeria’s Drug Control Measures – Fagbemi, Marwa
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and the Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), have expressed optimism that the recent amendment of the NDLEA Act by the National Assembly will significantly strengthen the country’s fight against drug abuse and illicit trafficking once signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
This was disclosed during the opening ceremony of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Drug Control meeting held on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Abuja.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the minister, the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, highlighted NDLEA’s remarkable strides over the last four years. He noted that the agency has achieved numerous arrests and convictions, large-scale drug seizures, and implemented evidence-based drug demand reduction programmes using the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy platform.
“In collaboration with the NDLEA, the Federal Ministry of Justice has worked to ensure that our national legal framework effectively backs the agency’s operations. We are now in the final stages of amending the NDLEA Act, a move that will significantly improve the agency’s ability to combat substance abuse and drug trafficking,” Fagbemi stated, according to a press statement issued by NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
Fagbemi emphasized that the amendment, alongside support for managing proceeds of crime, will help dismantle drug trafficking financial networks. He praised state governments for establishing their own drug control committees and commended civil society organizations for their grassroots advocacy.
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He urged stakeholders to broaden prevention efforts by focusing on youth, women, and vulnerable groups, saying, “Let us leave this meeting with renewed commitment to protecting our youth, securing our communities, and building a healthier, safer Nigeria.”
In his welcome remarks, NDLEA Chairman Marwa acknowledged the funding challenges affecting full implementation of the National Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP 2021–2025), but insisted the agency remains resolute in its mission.
“One major step forward is the amendment of the NDLEA Act, which is expected to bolster our institutional capacity. The amended Act has been passed by the National Assembly and is currently awaiting Presidential assent,” he stated.
Marwa called on all stakeholders to “renew our energy and resolve to confront Nigeria’s evolving and multifaceted drug challenges,” stressing the need for collective action toward a drug-free Nigeria.
Reviewing NDLEA’s achievements under the Fourth National Action Plan, Marwa reported the arrest of 31,334 drug offenders and conviction of 6,839 in 2023 and 2024. The agency also seized over 4.3 million kilograms of assorted illicit substances and destroyed 426 hectares of cannabis farms.
Additionally, 19,033 individuals received counseling and rehabilitation, while WADA sensitization campaigns reached deep into communities nationwide.
Speaking on behalf of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Country Representative Cheikh Ousmane Toure, represented by Dr. Akani Ibanga, described Nigeria’s drug crisis as a major public health and security concern. He noted that Nigeria accounts for 7.5% of the global drug use disorder burden, with over three million citizens affected.
“This alarming statistic underlines the urgency for stakeholders to fulfill their commitments under the NDCMP and tackle the challenge from all angles — from access to treatment to supply and demand reduction,” he said.
The Inter-Ministerial Committee meeting concluded with renewed pledges from stakeholders to intensify the war against drugs in Nigeria.
By PRNigeria
