Nigeria’s drug control efforts are entering a new phase as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) begins work on the National Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP 2026-2030).
The initiative was formally launched on Monday in Niger State by NDLEA Chairman, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), during a five-day workshop supported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and funded by the ECOWAS Commission.
In a press statement released by the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, on Monday, October 6, Marwa charged stakeholders to ensure the new plan goes beyond routine strategies by addressing fast-evolving threats in the illicit drug trade.
“The NDCMP 2026-2030 must be visionary yet practical; comprehensive yet targeted; and nationally owned yet regionally and globally aligned,” Marwa said. “It must boldly address new and emerging threats, from synthetic drugs to dark-web trafficking, from poly-substance use to the illicit financial flows that sustain the drug trade.”
He stressed that the workshop provides a unique opportunity to identify what has worked, highlight gaps, and chart innovative pathways. “This is not just about producing another document but about charting a collective vision to safeguard the health, security and well-being of Nigerians,” Marwa added.
UNODC Country Representative Cheikh Ousmane, represented by Dr Akanidomo Ibanga, commended Nigeria’s efforts but urged adaptability as drug threats evolve globally.
ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, Prof Fatou Sow Sarr, represented by Dr Daniel Amankwaah, assured that regional support would continue, describing the initiative as “a strategic step toward strengthening Nigeria’s drug control framework.”
The new plan, which replaces the current NDCMP expiring this year, is expected to be shaped by contributions from federal ministries, agencies, and civil society organisations.
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