President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to eradicating substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking through evidence-based policies and innovative interventions, while commending the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for seizing illicit drugs valued at more than N1.5 trillion and securing over 5,200 convictions within the last 18 months.
The President gave the assurance on Friday at the grand finale of activities marking the 2026 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Abuja. He was represented by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
Speaking on the theme, “The World Drug Problem: Persisting Issues, New Challenges, Innovative Responses,” Tinubu said Nigeria would continue to adopt a comprehensive strategy to combat drug abuse and trafficking, stressing that the evolving global drug challenge demands vigilance, adaptability and stronger collaboration.
He warned that drug abuse poses grave consequences beyond individual users, affecting families, educational institutions, workplaces and national security.
According to the President, the Renewed Hope Agenda addresses the root causes of drug abuse through expanded access to education, skills acquisition, entrepreneurship support, job creation and social intervention programmes aimed at reducing the vulnerability of young Nigerians to substance abuse and criminal recruitment.
Tinubu said efforts to reduce drug demand must be matched by decisive actions to disrupt supply networks through strengthened border security, enhanced surveillance at airports, seaports and land borders, improved intelligence gathering and closer cooperation among domestic and international law enforcement agencies.
He also underscored the importance of science, technology and data-driven policing, calling for stronger forensic laboratories, improved technological capacity and sustained scientific research to counter increasingly sophisticated drug trafficking syndicates and emerging psychoactive substances.
The President noted that law enforcement agencies, investigators, prosecutors and the judiciary all have vital roles in dismantling criminal organisations and ensuring offenders are brought to justice.
Tinubu commended the NDLEA, under the leadership of its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, retired Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, for recording significant milestones in the fight against organised drug crime.
He cited the agency’s increased arrests and drug seizures, successful prosecutions, recovery of multi-billion-naira assets, extensive public awareness campaigns, rehabilitation programmes and the dismantling of major drug cartels, including the syndicate behind the largest methamphetamine laboratory ever uncovered in Nigeria.
According to him, the achievements demonstrate his administration’s zero tolerance for organised crime and unwavering commitment to safeguarding Nigerians from the devastating effects of illicit drugs.
The President, however, stressed that government alone could not win the fight against drug abuse, urging parents, schools, religious and traditional institutions, the media, civil society organisations, development partners and the private sector to intensify efforts in prevention, awareness creation, treatment and rehabilitation.
Earlier, NDLEA Chairman, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd.), said Nigeria remains committed to global efforts to address one of the world’s most persistent threats to public health, security, social stability and sustainable development.
Marwa disclosed that intelligence-led operations conducted across airports, seaports, land borders and remote communities had resulted in major breakthroughs despite increasingly sophisticated criminal networks.
Among the notable successes, he highlighted the dismantling of the notorious Amadi Simon drug cartel through collaboration with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and law enforcement agencies in Greece, France and Switzerland.
He also announced the dismantling of a sophisticated cross-continental methamphetamine syndicate with the arrest of 63-year-old Nigerian drug kingpin, Innocent Anochili, alongside three Mexican nationals and six Nigerian accomplices.
According to him, the agency recently uncovered another industrial-scale clandestine methamphetamine laboratory concealed in a forest at Tapa village in Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State, where a Mexican national and four other suspects were arrested while the multi-billion-naira drug facility was dismantled.
Marwa said the agency’s sustained offensive against drug trafficking over the past five years had significantly weakened criminal networks, leading to the arrest of at least 234 drug barons operating across Nigeria.
He revealed that between January 2025 and June 2026, the NDLEA recorded 29,262 arrests, seized 5,305,484.88 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs valued at over N1.5 trillion, and secured the conviction of 5,225 offenders.
“These figures represent millions of lives protected, billions of naira in criminal proceeds denied to traffickers and renewed hope for Nigeria’s youth,” he said.
Marwa maintained that enforcement alone would not solve the drug problem, noting that the agency had substantially expanded its drug demand reduction initiatives nationwide.
He disclosed that under the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, the NDLEA conducted 6,645 sensitisation programmes in schools, worship centres, markets, motor parks, workplaces, communities and correctional facilities, reaching nearly five million Nigerians with anti-drug messages.
He added that 13,508 drug users received counselling, treatment and rehabilitation services across the agency’s 31 rehabilitation centres during the same period.
Marwa said the agency is increasingly deploying advanced technologies, including deep-web intelligence and data analytics, to detect emerging drug trends, while strengthening forensic and chemical analysis capabilities to improve the identification of precursor chemicals and new psychoactive substances.
He also unveiled the NDLEA’s Alternative Development Programme, described as the first initiative of its kind in Africa, designed to encourage illicit cannabis farmers to transition to legitimate agricultural ventures such as cassava, maize, cocoa and cowpea cultivation.
The NDLEA boss expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his sustained support and political will, while acknowledging the contributions of local and international partners, civil society organisations, the media and community leaders in advancing Nigeria’s anti-drug campaign.
Delivering the keynote lecture titled, “Celebrating Progress and Inspiring Collective Actions Against Drug Abuse,” Professor Oluwatoyin Odeku of the Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, said the progress achieved in the past five years demonstrated that the fight against illicit drugs was yielding measurable results.
She noted that although many initially doubted the possibility of meaningful success following the reinvigoration of the NDLEA in 2021, available evidence now provides reasons for optimism.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) also commended the Federal Government for adopting a balanced and evidence-based approach that integrates both supply and demand reduction strategies while respecting human rights.
Represented by Dr. Akanidomo Ibanga, on behalf of UNODC Country Representative Cheikh Touré, the agency reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigeria through technical assistance, strategic partnerships and innovative interventions.
The event also featured the presentation of prizes to winners of the NDLEA Inter-Secondary School Essay Competition. Ikpeamachi Jennifer of Federal Government College, Enugu, emerged overall winner, receiving a cash prize of N500,000 and a trophy. Aliyu Kama of General Murtala Muhammed College, Yola, won N300,000 as first runner-up, while Chiagoziem Ikechukwu of Mimshak Academy, Mbawsi, Abia State, received N200,000 and a trophy for finishing third.
