Amendment of NDLEA Act Will Bolster Nigeria’s Drug Control Efforts – Marwa

The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Buba Marwa and Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, have expressed hope that the recent amendment of the NDLEA Act by the National Assembly will bolster Nigeria’s drug control efforts when eventually signed by President Bola Tinubu.

Naijaonpoint reports that the duo made this known in their separate remarks during the opening ceremony of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Drug Control meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, 28 May 2025.

In the keynote address, Marwa listed the achievements of NDLEA in curbing crimes in society.

He said, “In the past four years, we have witnessed unprecedented efforts by the NDLEA. These achievements include arrests and seizures, convictions, elaborate evidence-based drug demand reduction interventions, and using the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy platform to sensitize communities on the dangers of drug abuse. Consistent gains have been recorded within the global space, by fostering international cooperation and building strong partnerships. NDLEA has sustained the fight with renewed energy and vigour, giving hope to the once hopeless situation.

“The Federal Ministry of Justice has worked together with the NDLEA to ensure that our national legal system effectively supports the drug control efforts of the agency. We are at the last lap of finalizing the amendment of the NDLEA Act, which will significantly enhance the organizational capability of the agency to control the menace of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria. The Ministry is also providing appropriate support in the area of proceeds of crime management, essential to dismantling the financial networks of drug traffickers.”

Marwa also stated that despite the funding challenges that affected the full implementation of the National Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP 2021–2025), the Agency remained undeterred in pursuing its goal.

While charging all stakeholders to redouble their efforts, the NDLEA boss said delivering the impact and value needed to confront Nigeria’s evolving and multifaceted drug challenges is essential.

He remarked, “Instead, we stay resolute, drawing strength from our shared vision, commitment, and collective responsibility to overcome this limitation. Encouragingly, certain developments promise to bolster the achievement of our objectives. One such step is the amendment of the NDLEA Act, which is expected to significantly strengthen the Agency’s institutional capacity in drug supply reduction. I am pleased to inform this esteemed assembly that the Amended Act has been passed by the National Assembly and is currently awaiting Presidential assent.

“I urge us all to renew our energy and resolve to deliver the impact and value needed to confront Nigeria’s evolving and multifaceted drug challenges. Let us bring our voices, passion, and optimism to bear in our deliberations. May we remain open and forthright in pursuit of our shared goal: the enhancement of health and security for all residents of Nigeria, in line with the aspirations of the NDCMP 2021–2025.”

On his part, Fagbemi who was represented by the Director, of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mohammed Abubakar, acknowledged the contributions of other law enforcement agencies and stakeholders to the country’s drug control efforts

He commended state governments that have established drug control committees and the civil society organisations working at the community levels to ensure more holistic outcomes.

The Minister charged the gathering to expand prevention programmes to address the root causes of drug abuse, targeting the youths, women, the vulnerable and marginalized persons in communities

He said, “The work of this Inter-Ministerial Committee has been crucial in coordinating a whole-of-government approach to this top burner issue. By bringing together critical stakeholders, we have been able to develop and implement more comprehensive and balanced strategies, applying the collaborative spirit which the NDCMP promotes.

 “Let us leave this meeting with renewed commitment to protecting our youth, securing our communities, and building a healthier, safer Nigeria for generations to come. The commitment made by NDLEA, the IMC and other stakeholders, holds the promise for a drug-free Nigeria”

Also speaking at the ceremony, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) Country Representative, Cheikh Ousmane Toure represented by Akani Ibanga said Nigeria stands at the crossroads of public health and security sector when it comes to the drug response.

He said, “Drug use, as we know, is associated with various things from health to safety to productivity to cohesion and, in fact, to how we respond at the level of our community. As we gather, we must be guided with data, and I’m glad how the chairman has, detailed the responses that have gone on in the different sectors, both in terms of supply reduction, demand reduction, and when it has to do with access to medications. And I think that where we have a country where at least three million people are said to be suffering from drug use disorder, when we did this calculation and you have 39.5 million in the world, that means we’re contributing 7.5 percent to that data as a country. That’s worrisome, and it calls for us to continue in this last leg of implementing the NDCMP to ensure that we are able to follow through with all the commitments that the drug control master plan have laid out for us to do, that we may address these issues that we face.”