Advancing the Drug War Through Institutional Synergy
By Abdulsalam Mahmud,
In today’s complex security landscape, wars are no longer fought only on distant battlefields. They are fought in cargo yards, at the seaports and in dusty warehouses hidden in quiet city corners.
And one of the most dangerous wars of this century—one threatening our nation’s future—is the war against illicit drugs. These substances, often glamorized in pop culture but devastating in reality, creep silently into society, corrupting the minds of the young, distorting public health and undermining development.
Nigeria’s problem with drug abuse is no longer a whispered concern—it is a public health emergency. Methamphetamine, tramadol, codeine-laced syrups, unregistered tablets; they are no longer abstract terms. They are real threats lurking in neighbourhoods and schools, fueling crime and mental health crises.
But drugs are not born in Nigeria. They are shipped, smuggled and spirited through our borders—often by highly-organised criminal networks exploiting lapses in security. For too long, the lack of synergy among agencies enabled this illicit traffic to thrive.
But something is beginning to shift. A new culture of collaboration is emerging. One that sees national security not just as the job of the military or police but a shared responsibility—between health regulators, customs officials, anti-narcotic officers and the presidency itself.
This shift was dramatically on display earlier this June, when the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, hosted the heads of three critical agencies—Nigeria Customs Service, NAFDAC, and the NDLEA—in a rare and symbolically powerful event at his office in Abuja.
It was not a press stunt. It was a signal that things are changing. The occasion was a formal recognition of the inter-agency success that led to the identification and recent destruction of over 206 containers and a trailer-load of dangerous pharmaceuticals and narcotics.
The operation, one of the most significant in recent years, was a culmination of months of intelligence sharing, joint inspections and coordinated enforcement. Ribadu described the outcome as a model for how agencies should work together when national interest is on the line.
“This is an acknowledgment of the good work you’ve been doing,” the NSA said. “Nigeria is changing. It won’t be business as usual anymore. We’ll go after the criminals who bring these poisons into our country.” And rightly so.
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With a rising number of Nigerians—especially youth—exposed to cheap and harmful substances, enforcement cannot afford to be disjointed. Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, underscored this by reminding personalities at the forum that his agency had earlier declared a state of emergency on illicit pharmaceutical trafficking.
The result? Quicker response times, sharper intelligence gathering, and, most crucially, results like this. NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, also emphasized the urgency of the task. She revealed that over 1,300 security personnel had been deployed under the NSA’s directive to support drug control operations across the country.
According to her, “These unregistered and unwholesome products are a danger to our women and children… our continued collaboration is saving lives.” From NDLEA’s side, the message was equally clear.
The representative of the Agency’s chairman, Shadrac Haruna pointed to the inter-agency committee initiated by Customs as a game-changer in disrupting supply chains and shutting down illegal storage facilities. Beyond the speeches and symbolic gestures—like the Certificate of Destruction presented to the NSA—what is truly commendable is the growing sense that Nigeria is finally learning how to use the strength of unity in service of national protection.
By honouring the heads of the Customs, NAFDAC and NDLEA with plaques and commendation letters, the NSA did more than say “thank you.” He reminded the country that public service can still be a place of honour and that the system can work—when people work together.
This is not to say the drug problem is solved. Far from it. But these efforts signal something vital: that the machinery of state can indeed push back when aligned around a shared goal. When enforcement is matched with political will, and when silos give way to synergy, even the most embedded threats can be uprooted.
Nigeria’s fight against drug abuse is far from over, but the signs are hopeful. These agencies have shown that unity is not just a moral ideal but an operational advantage. As the country continues to reel from the consequences of drugs—from addiction to armed robbery to mental illness—this kind of leadership could not have come at a better time.
Let this not be a one-off celebration. Let it mark the beginning of a new doctrine in our security architecture—where recognition is tied to impact, and where impact is born of collaboration. What was achieved in June by the Nigeria Customs, NAFDAC, and NDLEA was more than the destruction of illicit drugs; it was a reaffirmation of national resolve.
It showed that when institutions unite around a common purpose, they do not merely fight crime—they reinforce the very foundations of a safer and healthier Nigeria.
Mahmud, Deputy Editor of PRNigeria, can be reached at: babasalam1989@gmail.com.
