By Festus Fifen

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to eliminating the menace of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking through evidence-based, innovative interventions.

President Tinubu who gave this assurance in Abuja during the grand finale of celebrations, marking the 2026 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking said the Federal Government is confronting these challenges through a well-coordinated, multi-faceted approach.

Represented at the event by the Hon. Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, the President ​Reflecting on this year’s theme, “The World Drug Problem: Persisting Issues, New Challenges, Innovative Responses,” emphasized that the evolving nature of the global drug problem demands constant vigilance, adaptability, and collective action. He noted that the consequences of the drug scourge extend far beyond individual users, severely disrupting families, schools, workplaces, and overall national security.

In his words, “My administration remains committed to creating an environment in which young Nigerians can thrive and succeed. Through the Renewed Hope Agenda, we are expanding access to education, promoting skills development, supporting entrepreneurship, creating employment opportunities and implementing social interventions that address some of the underlying factors that make individuals vulnerable to substance abuse and criminal recruitment.

According to a statement signed by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy Femi Babafemi the President said, “At the same time, we recognize that reducing demand must be matched by decisive action to disrupt supply. This requires stronger border management, enhanced surveillance of ports, airports, seaports and land crossings, improved intelligence gathering and closer collaboration among national, regional and international law enforcement agencies. Criminal organizations operate across borders, and our response must be equally coordinated and effective.”

Speaking further, the President noted that science, technology and reliable data have become indispensable tools in this effort, adding that “We must continue to strengthen our capacity to collect, analyse and apply data so that emerging trends are identified early, interventions are properly evaluated and strategic decisions are informed by facts.”

“As illicit drug markets evolve, our ability to detect and identify drugs and precursor chemicals must evolve as well. Strengthening forensic laboratories, enhancing technological capabilities and supporting scientific research will remain essential if we are to stay ahead of emerging threats. Our criminal justice system must continue to receive the support it needs to deal effectively with drug-related crimes. Law enforcement officers, investigators, prosecutors and the courts all have important roles to play in ensuring that criminal organizations are disrupted and offenders are held accountable under the law.”

In his welcome remark, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa stated that in the last 18 months alone, the Agency has made a total of 29,262 arrests leading to the seizure of 5,305,484.88 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs valued at over N1.5 Trillion and the conviction of 5,225 offenders.

According to the former Military Administrator, “These numbers represent more than just data; they represent millions of lives saved, billions of naira in criminal wealth confiscated, and a future reclaimed for our youths.”

General Marwa added that Nigeria stands in lockstep with the global community, while reaffirming the country’s unyielding resolve against one of the most persistent threats to public health, national security, social stability, and human development.
According to him,

In his words, “in the face of these sophisticated threats, the NDLEA has not blinked. We remain resolute. Over the past year, the Agency has recorded monumental operational successes through intelligence-driven enforcement, dismantling seemingly untouchable syndicates and executing unprecedented seizures across our airports, seaports, land borders, and deep in the forests in communities.

“To those who think they can operate with impunity, our recent spectacular operational breakthroughs send an unmistakable message: there is no safe haven. In a masterclass of transnational intelligence sharing, the NDLEA, in seamless collaboration with the US-DEA, and law enforcement authorities from Greece, France, and Switzerland, successfully dismantled the notorious Amadi Simon drug cartel.

“With the same zeal and vigour, we have effectively neutralized a highly sophisticated, cross-continental methamphetamine cartel. This operation led to the historic arrest of a 63-year-old Nigerian drug baron, Innocent Anochili, alongside three Mexican nationals and six other Nigerian accomplices, completely disrupting a major synthetic drug pipeline.
“And closely coming on the heels of this was the discovery of yet another industrial scale clandestine meth laboratory deep in the forest of Tapa village, Ibarapa North LGA, Oyo state, where a Mexican and four others were arrested and their multibillion-naira infrastructure of death shut down and dismantled.”

The NDLEA boss noted that the Agency’s achievements are backed by an aggressive, relentless five-year campaign that has fundamentally broken the spine of drug trafficking in the country with the arrest of no fewer than 234 drug barons coordinating the operations of major drug networks dismantled during the period.

While noting that enforcement alone cannot solve the drug problem, Marwa said the NDLEA has aggressively expanded its Drug Demand Reduction (DDR) initiatives. “Through our War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, we have conducted 6,645 drug use prevention focused sensitization and awareness creation programmes in schools, worship centres, work places, markets, motor parks and communities, and correctional facilities, among others, equipping nearly five million Nigerians with the life skills to resist drug abuse. Equally significant is the counselling, treatment and rehabilitation of 13,508 drug users across our 31 rehab centres spread all over the country within the same period.”

Delivering the guest lecture titled “Celebrating Progress and Inspiring Collective Actions against Drug Abuse”, Prof Oluwatoyin Odeku of the Department of Pharmaceuticals and Industrial Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, noted that there’s a reason to celebrate the milestones achieved in the fight against illicit drugs in the past five years.

“First, let us celebrate. Because celebration fuels courage. When NDLEA was re-energised in 2021, many thought the drug war was unwinnable. Today, the data tells a different story, and we have reasons to celebrate”, she stated.

In his remark, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Country Representative, Chiekh Toure who was represented by Dr. Akanidomo Ibanga commended the Federal Government for its continued commitment to addressing the drug problem through a balanced and coordinated approach. “The leadership of institutions such as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Federal Ministry of Health, and other critical stakeholders demonstrates a growing recognition that effective drug control must integrate both supply and demand reduction, underpinned by evidence and respect for human rights. At UNODC, we are privileged to support these national efforts by advancing innovative, evidence-based responses that align with global standards and national priorities.”
He reaffirmed UNODC’s unwavering commitment to supporting Nigeria in this critical endeavor, adding that “we stand ready to continue providing technical expertise, fostering partnerships, and promoting innovative solutions that respond to the realities on the ground.”
Others who spoke on their support for ongoing drug control efforts include the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate who was represented by Mrs. Adeola Olufowobi-Yusuf; Mandate Secretary, Health and Environment, FCTA, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe; Hon. Lanre Okunola of the House of Reps Committee on Drugs and Narcotics; representatives of NACA, and NAFDAC, among others.