The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), have stated that the pending amendment to the NDLEA Act will significantly enhance Nigeria’s drug control efforts once signed into law by President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking at the opening of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Drug Control meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, both leaders emphasized the importance of strengthening the agency’s legal framework to tackle drug abuse and trafficking more effectively.
Fagbemi, represented by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mohammed Abubakar, highlighted NDLEA’s recent achievements, including large-scale arrests, convictions, and rehabilitation efforts. He noted that the amended Act will enhance the agency’s capacity and legal backing to disrupt the operations and financial networks of drug traffickers.
Marwa affirmed that the amended Act, already passed by the National Assembly and awaiting presidential assent, will reinforce NDLEA’s institutional capacity. Despite funding constraints, he noted the agency’s progress under the National Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP 2021–2025), with over 31,000 arrests, nearly 7,000 convictions, and more than 4 million kilograms of illicit drugs seized in 2023–2024.
He also reported that over 19,000 individuals received counselling and rehabilitation, and that NDLEA’s nationwide War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign has expanded public awareness.
UNODC Country Representative, Cheikh Ousmane Toure, represented by Dr. Akani Ibanga, described Nigeria’s drug problem as urgent, citing data showing the country accounts for 7.5% of the global population suffering from drug use disorders.
The gathering called for renewed commitment across government, law enforcement, and civil society to expand prevention programmes and tackle the root causes of substance abuse, especially among youth and vulnerable populations.
