We Must Remain Resilient, Drug War Is a Generational Task — Marwa Charges NDLEA Officers

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), has urged officers and personnel to remain resilient, describing the fight against illicit drugs as a generational responsibility.

Marwa gave the charge on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at the 12th Chairman/CEO’s Commendations and Awards ceremony held at the agency’s national headquarters in Abuja.

The ceremony honoured 274 NDLEA personnel for outstanding performance, alongside 18 best-performing commands and 19 non-governmental and media organisations for their contributions to the campaign against drug abuse in Nigeria.

Marwa said the fight against illicit drugs would remain a continuous challenge requiring sustained commitment from the agency, government institutions, civil society and other partners.

“The war against illicit drugs is not a campaign with an end date. It is a generational responsibility,” he said.

According to Marwa, the evolving nature of drug trafficking means that dismantling criminal networks and disrupting trafficking routes would require constant vigilance.

He said new cartels would attempt to emerge whenever existing networks were dismantled, while traffickers would continue searching for alternative routes whenever established corridors were shut down.

Marwa therefore urged NDLEA personnel to maintain their commitment and remain prepared to confront emerging threats in the drug trade.

He also stressed that enforcement alone would not be enough to defeat drug abuse and trafficking, highlighting the importance of prevention, rehabilitation, community engagement and public awareness.

The NDLEA chief acknowledged the role of civil society organisations in helping people, particularly young Nigerians, overcome substance abuse and rebuild their lives.

He also commended the media for continuing to expose drug trafficking activities and draw attention to rehabilitation, recovery and the wider consequences of substance abuse.

Marwa said the agency’s decision to recognise its personnel and external partners was intended to encourage greater commitment to the anti-drug campaign.

He acknowledged that many other deserving individuals, organisations and media platforms across Nigeria were not included among this year’s award recipients.

The NDLEA chairman said the awards programme would therefore continue in subsequent years, allowing the agency to recognise more people and organisations contributing to the fight against illicit drugs.

He described the latest ceremony as the beginning of an enduring tradition rather than a conclusion, stressing that the agency would continue to acknowledge outstanding contributions to the campaign.

Marwa urged all NDLEA personnel and partners to remain united and resilient as the agency continues its efforts to reduce the impact of illicit drugs on Nigerian communities.