The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has stated that President Bola Tinubu’s administration will continue to strengthen the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) due to its strategic importance to Nigeria’s security architecture.

Naijaonpoint reports that Ribadu spoke on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja, where he commissioned 46 new operational vehicles for deployment to strategic commands and formations nationwide.

He praised the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) and his team for their sustained commitment, discipline and energy, noting that under Marwa, NDLEA has become a result-oriented force addressing the grave threats posed by illicit drugs that undermine our national security, social stability, and public health.

“This event is not just about commissioning vehicles.

“Without the mobility to swiftly reach danger points, intercept traffickers and move resources where they are most needed, our fight is severely constrained. The link between drug trafficking and insecurity is systemic. Criminal gangs thrive on drug profits, and insurgents and armed groups fund their activities with it. Countless young Nigerians fall victim to addiction, with devastating consequences for families and communities,” Ribadu said in a press release on Wednesday by the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi.

He added that the Renewed Hope Agenda prioritises drug control as a pillar of our national security strategy, crediting the President’s unwavering support through funding, inter-agency cooperation, and policy alignment for enabling the latest milestone.

“These vehicles will be deployed nationwide to amplify NDLEA’s operational presence, strengthen deterrence, and ensure that no trafficker escapes justice,” he said, promising full backing from the Office of the National Security Adviser and coordination with the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Customs Service and NAFDAC.

Ribadu challenged NDLEA officers to treat the commissioning as a fresh mandate: “The NDLEA is not only building lives, but also restoring dignity and shaping national policy. In light of the pandemic, this commissioning is a call to action. Use these resources responsibly, act within the law, and remain vigilant.”

Marwa Confirms Arrests Of 40,887 Suspects, Recoveries And Convictions

Welcoming guests, Gen. Marwa said the ceremony is symbolic of the continuous effort to reposition the Agency as a modern, efficient and respected organisation, and reflects the Tinubu administration’s sustained commitment to equipping institutions on the front line of national security and public health.

“Today’s event is a milestone, as NDLEA is now counted among a distinguished group of security and drug law enforcement agencies around the world that are not only visible in their operations but equally respected and making impacts,” he noted.

Marwa thanked the President for unwavering and strategic support, saying the vehicle procurement was made possible by the administration’s fiscal backing under the Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises national stability, institutional reform and the safety of every Nigerian life.

Linking drugs to crime trends, Marwa said: “We know from both intelligence and experience that drug abuse and trafficking are central to many security challenges in the country. The link is undeniable: kidnapping, armed robbery, insurgency and cult violence are all fuelled by illicit substances. Drug trafficking emboldens perpetrators, strips away moral restraint and replaces hope with recklessness. No serious approach to national security can ignore drug control, and this is why we pursue our mandate with focus, determination and the results are there to show.”

He reeled out two-year results under the current administration: “40,887 drug offenders arrested (including 45 drug barons); over 5.5 million kilogrammes of assorted drugs seized; 704.445 hectares of cannabis farms destroyed; 8,682 convictions secured with asset forfeitures to the Federal Government; 24,173 drug users treated and rehabilitated across 30 rehab centres; and 8,698 War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces, motor parks and communities.”

While the illicit drug economy is evolving, exploiting vulnerable youths, porous borders and sometimes complicit actors, Marwa said NDLEA’s response will keep evolving with sharper intelligence, stronger community engagement and, critically, improved mobility and logistics.

AGF, Defence Chief, BPP DG Hail Agency’s drive and due process

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, lauded the President’s support and Marwa’s leadership.

“There is a very, very close nexus between drug trafficking and all the crimes that we have,” he said.

“They embolden criminals. And when the thing wears off, then you discover that they are just ordinary mortals like you and I… Whenever we are asked to showcase our report card, I’m very quick to say put NDLEA first.”

The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, called the procurement “a significant boost to the Agency’s operational response capability and overall effectiveness, adding he believes the investment will translate to a greater deterrent to those who seek to profit from this destructive trade.

Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, congratulated the President for putting the likes of Marwa in positions of leadership, and said the vehicles passed strict due process.

“NDLEA, for me, is an example for other agencies of government… these vehicles have gone through standardisations and they are fit for purpose,” Adedokun stated.

According to the agency, 38 SUVs were distributed to Zonal Commands, Strategic Commands and State Commands nationwide, while 10 sedan cars went to 10 directorates.

At the close of the ceremony, 15 newly promoted Commanders of Narcotics (CN) were decorated as Assistant Commander General of Narcotics (ACGN), Naijaonpoint understands.