SAEMA 2025: Marwa Rallies Nigerians for Collective Action Against Illicit Drugs, Other Crimes
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), has called for a collective national effort in the fight against substance abuse, illicit drug trafficking and related social vices. Marwa made the call on Wednesday during the 7th Security and Emergency Management Awards and Conference (SAEMA 2025), hosted at the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja.
Delivering his keynote address, the NDLEA boss said securing Nigeria from the devastating impact of drugs must be seen as a shared responsibility involving security agencies, community leaders, civil society organisations, educators, the media and citizens.
“The task before us—securing our nation—is a shared responsibility,” Marwa said. “All security agencies, emergency responders, and civil society partners are working towards the same goal: a safe, stable, and prosperous Nigeria.”
He assured that the Agency will consolidate gains recorded in the last five years, noting that his second tenure will intensify both aggressive interdictions and compassionate treatment, rehabilitation and prevention programmes.
Marwa highlighted NDLEA’s two-pronged strategy, starting with Supply Reduction, which focuses on dismantling drug cartels, intelligence-led operations, and intercepting illicit substances. He disclosed that within the first 10 months of the year, the Agency recorded 16,304 arrests and secured about 3,000 convictions, while seizing 4.5 million kilograms of illicit drugs. Additionally, 612.2864 hectares of cannabis farms were destroyed during various operations.
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On Demand Reduction, the NDLEA Chairman said the Agency has expanded its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, reaching schools, markets, communities, traditional institutions and places of worship. In 2025 alone, over 3,765 WADA activities were conducted across Nigeria.
He also revealed that the Agency currently operates 30 rehabilitation centres nationwide, offering treatment, counselling and reintegration support for individuals battling addiction.
Marwa commended the organisers of SAEMA—Image Merchants Promotion Limited, Centre for Crisis Communication, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), and The International Emergency Management Society (TIEMS)—for choosing the NDLEA to host the 2025 edition, and for honouring institutions committed to safeguarding Nigeria.
Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, praised Marwa’s leadership, describing the NDLEA’s efforts as instrumental in protecting Nigerian youths and enhancing national security.
“The incredible amount of work Gen. Marwa is doing for this country is immeasurable,” Rafsanjani said. He noted that the impact of drug abuse on youth and national security underscores the importance of the Agency’s work.
Other speakers, including the Chairman, Centre for Crisis Communication, Gen. Chris Olukolade (rtd); Chairman of IMPR, Prof. Sule Yau Sule; and PRNigeria’s Editor-in-Chief, Yushau Shuaib, also applauded the NDLEA’s efforts.
The event featured the presentation of a book titled Anti-Drug, Anti-Smuggling Campaigns: A Corper’s Chronicle, authored by Youth Corps members Arafat Abdulrazaq and Tahir Ahmad.
A major highlight was the conferment of the Outstanding Personality of the Year award on Marwa, while NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, received the Outstanding Crisis Communicator of the Year award. Other agencies recognised include the Nigerian Army, Air Force, DSS, EFCC, ICPC and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).
