The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recorded 45,853 arrests, 9,263 convictions, and seized over 8.5 million kilograms of assorted illicit substances in the last 30 months.
The agency’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) disclosed this on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, during a ceremony held to honour 220 personnel for outstanding performance. The statement was issued by the Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, at the NDLEA Headquarters in Abuja.
Marwa, who also decorated 15 senior officers with new ranks, praised the staff for their dedication and courage in tackling substance abuse and drug trafficking across the country.
“Today, we specifically recognize those who have gone above and beyond. We celebrate those who, despite facing immense danger and relentless temptation, chose the path of integrity, selflessness, and uncompromising adherence to our mandate,” he said.
Highlighting the agency’s achievements under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, Marwa revealed that 26,613 drug users had been counselled and rehabilitated, while 9,848 War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation programmes were held in schools, workplaces, markets, motor parks, and communities nationwide.
He noted that while progress has been made, the drug problem remains a major threat to Nigeria’s social, economic, and security systems. “Drug abuse, trafficking, and the associated criminal enterprises represent a direct and existential threat to the social fabric, economic stability, and national security of Nigeria. They fuel crime, corrupt our youth, and provide resources for terrorism and insurgency,” he stated.
Marwa explained that the reward system introduced by the agency aims to maintain morale and reinforce a culture of integrity and excellence. “We uphold our tradition of rewarding key virtues: hard work, loyalty, sacrifice, integrity, commitment, honesty, courage, and obedience,” he said.
He urged officers to continue operating within standard procedures to ensure professionalism and safety in their operations, noting that the agency has evolved from years of limited capacity to a more empowered force ready to dismantle drug cartels nationwide.
Marwa expressed gratitude to both local and international partners for their support, naming the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the U.S. Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), the UK Border Force, and the governments of France and Germany, among others.
He also commended the National Assembly committees on drugs, the Minister of Justice, and the Judiciary for their cooperation, while thanking President Tinubu for his unwavering support of the NDLEA’s mission.
“We are where we are today because of the support we have received from these bodies, and we remain optimistic that this cooperation will continue to help us achieve a drug-free Nigeria,” he added.
