ABUJA, June 26,– President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to combating substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking through evidence-based and innovative interventions.
Tinubu made the pledge on Friday in Abuja at the grand finale of activities marking the 2026 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
Represented by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), the President said the evolving nature of the global drug problem required sustained vigilance, adaptability and collective action.
Speaking on the theme, “The World Drug Problem: Persisting Issues, New Challenges, Innovative Responses,” Tinubu said substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking continued to threaten public health, national security, social stability and economic development.
He said his administration, through the Renewed Hope Agenda, was expanding access to education, promoting skills development, supporting entrepreneurship, creating employment opportunities and implementing social interventions to address factors predisposing people to substance abuse and criminal activities.
Prince Lateef Fagbemi, Attorney General and Minister of Justice
The President said government was also strengthening border management, enhancing surveillance at airports, seaports and land borders, improving intelligence gathering and deepening collaboration with national, regional and international law enforcement agencies.
According to him, science, technology and reliable data have become indispensable in responding to emerging drug threats.
Tinubu said government would continue to strengthen forensic laboratories, enhance technological capabilities and support scientific research to improve the detection of illicit drugs and precursor chemicals.
Brig-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, Chairman, CEO, NDLEA
He commended the leadership and personnel of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for their dedication and achievements in combating drug trafficking and abuse.
The President noted that the agency had recorded significant successes in arrests, seizures, convictions, forfeitures, rehabilitation programmes and the dismantling of organised drug trafficking networks, including operators of the country’s largest methamphetamine laboratory.
He, however, stressed that government alone could not win the fight against drug abuse, calling on parents, schools, religious and traditional institutions, the media, civil society organisations and the private sector to support prevention, treatment and rehabilitation efforts.
Earlier, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, retired Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, said the agency had remained resolute in confronting increasingly sophisticated drug trafficking networks through intelligence-led operations.
Marwa said recent operations carried out in collaboration with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (US-DEA) and law enforcement agencies in Greece, France and Switzerland led to the dismantling of the Amadi Simon drug cartel.
He added that the agency also disrupted another transnational methamphetamine syndicate with the arrest of a 63-year-old suspected drug kingpin, Innocent Anochili, three Mexican nationals and six other suspects.
According to him, NDLEA also uncovered another industrial-scale clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in Tapa village, Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State, leading to the arrest of a Mexican national and four other suspects.
Marwa disclosed that in the last 18 months, the agency arrested 29,262 suspects, seized 5,305,484.88 kilogrammes of assorted illicit drugs valued at more than N1.5 trillion and secured 5,225 convictions.
He said the agency also conducted 6,645 drug abuse prevention and awareness campaigns across schools, worship centres, markets, workplaces, motor parks, communities and correctional centres, reaching nearly five million Nigerians.
He added that 13,508 drug users received counselling, treatment and rehabilitation in the agency’s 31 rehabilitation centres nationwide during the period.
Marwa said NDLEA was strengthening its use of technology, deep-web intelligence and advanced data analytics to detect emerging drug trends, while upgrading its forensic and chemical analysis capabilities.
He also highlighted the agency’s Alternative Development Programme aimed at providing cannabis farmers with sustainable alternative livelihoods through the cultivation of legitimate crops.
In a guest lecture entitled, “Celebrating Progress and Inspiring Collective Actions Against Drug Abuse,” Prof. Oluwatoyin Odeku of the University of Ibadan said the achievements recorded by NDLEA over the past five years demonstrated that sustained efforts against drug abuse and trafficking could produce positive results.
Also speaking, the Country Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Chiekh Touré, represented by Dr Akanidomo Ibanga, commended the Federal Government for adopting a balanced approach to drug control through supply and demand reduction strategies.
The event also featured the presentation of prizes to winners of the NDLEA Inter-Secondary School Essay Competition.
Ikpeamachi Jennifer of Federal Government College, Enugu, won the first prize of N500,000 and a trophy, while Aliyu Kama of General Murtala Muhammed College, Yola, received the second prize of N300,000 and a trophy.
Chiagoziem Ikechukwu of Mimshak Academy, Mbawsi, Abia State, emerged third and received N200,000 and a trophy.
