NDLEA Chairman, Marwa Raises Alarm Over Projected 40% Rise In Drug Use Across Africa

Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd), has expressed concern over the projected 40% surge in drug use across Africa, warning of a looming crisis unless urgent and coordinated action is taken.

Naijaonpoint reports that Marwa made this known on Monday, June 30, 2025, during a meeting with a three-member delegation from the African Union Commission at the NDLEA Headquarters in Abuja, including the team lead Dr. Olubusayo Akinola, Head of Social Welfare, Drug Control and Crime Prevention, Abiola Olaleye, Senior Drug Epidemiology and Research Officer and Prof. Johan Strijdom, Senior Drug Control Consultant.

A statement by the NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, disclosed that the visit was to evaluate the African Union Plan of Action on Drug Control and Crime Prevention (2019-2025).

In his speech, Marwa cited global estimates that project a 10–11% rise in drug use, stressing that Africa is set to experience a much higher increase of up to 40 per cent.

He said, “We are particularly pleased that the African Union is giving due weight to the implementation of the continental action plan, not merely as a theoretical exercise, but by undertaking direct field consultations with national counterparts. This grounded, evidence-informed approach will undoubtedly result in a more pragmatic and responsive framework for implementation.

“While global projections estimate a 10–11% rise in drug use prevalence, Africa is expected to experience a surge of up to 40%. “This disparity signals a looming crisis that demands coordinated and accelerated action. We deeply appreciate the AU’s leadership in this space and commend your proactive efforts.” 

The Commission of the African Union stated that the formulation of a new action plan on drug control and crime prevention on the African continent would not be complete without input from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), given its central role in law enforcement in the region.

The AU Commission delegation commended the NDLEA for its sustained provision of critical and policy-relevant data, which has significantly informed and shaped the Commission’s work over the years.

According to Akinola, “We’re here to understand the status of implementation of this continental action plan on drug control and crime prevention. We are in the process of re-evaluating and starting another continental action plan that will take us from 2026 to 2030. So, we have identified a few countries to understand how this action plan was actually implemented in the member states. And if there are gaps and the new and current emerging trends that we can include.

“So, we understand very well the work of NDLEA and we believe that the formulation of the new action plan will not be finalized and concluded until we have inputs from NDLEA Nigeria, because you are basically on the forefront when it comes to law enforcement on the entire continent.”