A United States–based security research and strategy organisation has named the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd), as Security Leader of the Year 2025.
In a statement signed by Director of Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja Femi Babafemi said the recognition was announced by Texas-based Ogun Security Research and Strategic Consulting LLC (OSRS) in a statement published on its website on Thursday, December 25, 2025. The organisation said Marwa emerged top following an independent, AI-assisted and evidence-based assessment that evaluated leadership effectiveness, integrity, institutional reform and public confidence.
According to OSRS, Nigeria’s security environment in 2025 required more than the use of force, but leadership capable of delivering results while strengthening institutions, protecting rights and earning public trust. It noted that amid terrorism, drug trafficking, organised crime and public scepticism toward state authority, Marwa stood out as the most impactful security leader.
Explaining the basis for the award, OSRS said it assessed candidates using four key indicators: operational effectiveness and national impact; respect for human rights and the rule of law; employee welfare, morale and internal discipline; and public perception, trust and institutional credibility. Artificial intelligence was deployed to analyse open-source data, performance records and verified reports, while human experts reviewed and validated the findings.
The organisation said that under Marwa’s leadership, the NDLEA recorded unprecedented achievements in 2025, including dismantling international drug trafficking networks, intercepting record volumes of illicit drugs and disrupting criminal supply chains linked to terrorism, banditry and organised violence. It stressed that the successes were driven by intelligence-led operations, international cooperation and strong internal controls.
OSRS also highlighted institutional reforms within the NDLEA, noting improved discipline, promotion based on performance, clearer career progression, enhanced transparency through accountability mechanisms such as body-worn cameras, and a renewed focus on staff welfare. These measures, it said, boosted morale, professionalism and operational consistency.
On public trust, OSRS, led by global security expert Dr. Oludare Ogunlana, observed that the NDLEA emerged in 2025 as one of the few security institutions widely regarded as credible, disciplined and functional. It said Marwa’s leadership prioritised professionalism and accountability, helping the agency avoid major human rights controversies that have affected other institutions.
The organisation added that Marwa’s selection reflects a broader shift in assessing security leadership, emphasising institutional integrity, intelligence-driven operations and staff welfare as critical components of national security.
“Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa’s recognition is not about personality but proof,” OSRS stated, adding that his leadership demonstrated that operational results, reform and public trust can coexist.
