The Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics has pledged stronger legislative support for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) as part of renewed efforts to combat rising cases of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking across Nigeria.
The commitment was made on Monday during a courtesy visit by the newly appointed Chairman of the Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics, Senator Joseph Ikpea, to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
The meeting underscored a growing partnership between the National Assembly and the anti-drug agency, with Senator Ikpea assuring the NDLEA of robust legal and policy backing aimed at strengthening drug control measures, expanding rehabilitation programmes and intensifying preventive campaigns targeted at young Nigerians.
Ikpea, who represents Edo Central Senatorial District, said the visit was intended to foster closer collaboration with the agency while drawing from Marwa’s wealth of experience in public service and leadership.
He stressed the need for a comprehensive approach to tackling drug abuse, including rehabilitation for affected individuals and sustained public enlightenment campaigns to prevent others from becoming victims of substance abuse.
“I am here to learn and partner with you so that our children who have gone into drug abuse can be rehabilitated, while others are prevented from falling into the drug trap through massive awareness creation and sensitisation programmes,” the senator said.
Commending Marwa’s record of public service as former Military Governor of old Borno State, former Military Administrator of Lagos State and current NDLEA chief, Ikpea described him as a dedicated and results-driven leader.
He assured the agency of the Senate’s readiness to enact and support legislation capable of strengthening the national response to the growing drug menace.
“We are happy to work with you and support you in all of these because we know you are already doing a great job but not getting as much as you need to do the work. We will partner with you through legislative support and necessary laws to subdue the drug problem in our country,” he said.
In his response, Marwa described drug abuse and trafficking as a major driver of several social and security challenges in Nigeria and across the world.
Despite the scale of the challenge, he said the NDLEA had achieved significant milestones in recent years, including the dismantling of major transnational drug cartels, the arrest of high-profile drug traffickers and the seizure and forfeiture of assets linked to illicit drug operations.
According to him, the agency’s successes have been made possible through the support of President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly and the judiciary.
“The drug problem is a major challenge that is at the root of some other social issues, not only in Nigeria but globally. However, we are doing our level best to curb the scourge and we are getting impressive results,” Marwa said.
The NDLEA chairman reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to working closely with the Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics to strengthen both drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction strategies nationwide.
He expressed optimism that Senator Ikpea’s leadership of the committee would further enhance national efforts to curb substance abuse and dismantle drug trafficking networks.
The meeting comes amid growing concern over increasing rates of drug abuse among Nigerian youths and ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to disrupt organised drug trafficking syndicates operating within and beyond the country’s borders.
