RismadarVoice Reporters
May 18, 2026
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has raised concerns over the growing complexity of drug-related activities in Nigeria, warning that emerging trends in drug abuse and trafficking pose increasing risks to national security and public health.
Chairman of the agency, retired Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, issued the warning on Monday during the opening session of a two-day National Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP) Consultative Forum in Abuja.
Marwa acknowledged progress made by the country in combating drug-related crimes over the past five years but stressed that new patterns in the illicit drug trade require stronger and more coordinated interventions.
According to him, projections from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) indicate that drug use across Africa could rise by 40 per cent by 2030. He also referenced reports suggesting that West Africa remains a major transit corridor for cocaine trafficking between Latin America and Europe.
He noted that Nigeria’s drug environment is becoming more challenging due to the rise in synthetic substances, misuse of prescription medications, increased polydrug use, and the spread of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS). He also pointed to the growing use of encrypted communication platforms and dark web networks by traffickers.
Marwa said Nigeria, as Africa’s most populous country and largest economy, cannot remain passive in the face of the evolving threat.
He explained that the new National Drug Control Master Plan for 2026–2030 would introduce fresh strategies aimed at addressing both the economic and criminal dimensions of the drug problem.
According to him, the new framework includes alternative development and sustainable livelihood initiatives designed to tackle socio-economic factors driving the drug trade. Another key pillar focuses on disrupting illicit drug operations through the use of financial intelligence to weaken trafficking networks.
Marwa praised local and international partners, particularly the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and ECOWAS, for supporting the development of the draft plan.
He urged stakeholders to approach the issue as a national concern affecting homes, schools, and communities, while encouraging participants at the forum to contribute practical ideas capable of strengthening future drug control efforts.
In his remarks, the UNODC Country Representative, Cheikh Toure, called for stronger community participation and greater involvement of state and local governments in addressing drug-related challenges.
He argued that an effective response cannot be achieved solely at the national level, stressing that local authorities should take ownership by integrating drug control policies into development programmes and ensuring services reach communities.
Toure also called for broader inclusion of young people and women in drug control efforts, describing them as both vulnerable groups and important stakeholders in prevention and recovery initiatives.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, commended the NDLEA for its efforts in advocacy, rehabilitation, enforcement, and stakeholder engagement.
She urged participants to adopt a multi-sectoral approach that combines education, healthcare, law enforcement, community participation, and social support systems in addressing the root causes and consequences of substance abuse in Nigeria.
