NDLEA Chairman, Buba Marwa, Calls for Collective Action Against Drug Abuse as INWOAD, Phenomenal People Magazine Pledge Support for Anti-Drug Campaign

By Chioma Vivian James | Abuja

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), CON, has called for stronger partnerships among government agencies, civil society organisations, the media, women’s groups and youth-focused organisations in the fight against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria.

Marwa made the call when he received the President and Founder of the Initiative for Women’s Accelerated Development in Africa (INWOAD), and Publisher of Phenomenal People Magazine, Rtn.  Evelyn Hauwa Onyilo, and members of her executive during a courtesy visit to the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja.

The NDLEA Chairman described drug abuse as one of the foremost challenges confronting Nigeria, warning that the growing involvement of young people and women in drug use requires urgent, sustained and coordinated intervention.

According to him, the magnitude of the drug problem is such that the NDLEA cannot confront it alone, stressing that enforcement must be complemented by sustained sensitisation, advocacy, education, prevention and community mobilisation.

Marwa welcomed the INWOAD delegation to the Agency’s headquarters and expressed appreciation for the organisation’s kind words concerning the NDLEA’s ongoing efforts in the war against drugs.

He also thanked the delegation for the award and souvenir presented to him in recognition of his contribution to the fight against drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

The NDLEA boss said the consequences of drug abuse were increasingly evident in the behaviour and actions of some young Nigerians, pointing to disturbing incidents involving children and youths as a reflection of the urgent need to intensify prevention and awareness campaigns.

He noted that the challenge extends beyond drug trafficking and seizures, stressing the importance of addressing the demand side of the problem through education and early intervention.

Marwa disclosed that about 15 million Nigerians use drugs, meaning approximately one in every seven Nigerians is affected by drug use. He further noted that women constitute a significant proportion of people who use drugs, with about one in every four drug users being female.

He also raised concern over the widespread use of cannabis, noting that more than 10 million Nigerians use cannabis, underscoring the scale of the challenge facing the country.

For Marwa, these figures make it imperative for all stakeholders to move beyond occasional campaigns and build sustained platforms for prevention, especially among mothers, families, schools and communities.

He particularly welcomed INWOAD’s interest in direct sensitisation and advocacy, noting that platforms that engage mothers and women could become powerful channels for educating families about the dangers of substance abuse.

“NDLEA cannot do it alone,” the Chairman stressed, calling for greater collaboration with organisations such as INWOAD and the media to take the anti-drug message to communities across the country.

He said media campaigns, seminars, sensitisation programmes, advocacy and public enlightenment were critical components of the national response to drug abuse.

“NDLEA had continued to engage youth-oriented organisations and influential groups, including the Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Actors Guild of Nigeria and other youth groups, in an effort to broaden the reach of its drug prevention campaigns”, he disclosed. 

He maintained that celebrities, entertainers, community leaders, women leaders and other influential Nigerians have important roles to play in changing attitudes towards drug use, particularly among young people.

The NDLEA Chairman further assured INWOAD of the Agency’s readiness to support and partner with the organisation in its forthcoming workshop and summit on drug abuse.

He described direct advocacy targeted at mothers and women as particularly valuable because of the influence women have within families and communities.

Marwa also warmly acknowledged his long-standing relationship with Rtn. Evelyn Hauwa Onyilo, saying he had known her for more than 25 years and recognised her as a prominent figure in newscasting who had now expanded her advocacy to the fight against drug abuse.

He expressed confidence that their shared commitment could produce meaningful results in the anti-drug campaign and assured the delegation that the NDLEA would collaborate with her organisation.

Earlier, Rtn. Evelyn Onyilo, who led the INWOAD delegation, commended the NDLEA Chairman for what she described as his remarkable strides and unwavering commitment to combating drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria.

She noted that the purpose of the visit was not only to commend the Agency’s efforts but also to explore areas of partnership that would strengthen the campaign against substance abuse, particularly among women, adolescents and young people.

Onyilo said INWOAD was established in 2015 to promote gender equality, empower women and girls, advocate against discrimination and violence, encourage women’s participation in leadership and governance, and promote initiatives that advance the wellbeing of women and girls across Africa.

She stressed that the organisation considers the fight against drug abuse an important component of its broader commitment to protecting families, empowering women and creating opportunities for young people to lead healthy and productive lives.

In recognition of Marwa’s leadership and contribution to the national anti-drug campaign, Phenomenal People Magazine, in collaboration with INWOAD, presented him with the “Champion of Drug-Free Nigeria Award.”

The award, Onyilo explained, was a recognition of the NDLEA Chairman’s commitment to tackling drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking and the impact of the Agency’s work under his leadership.

She said INWOAD was prepared to work with the NDLEA through media campaigns, seminars, youth-focused programmes, community engagement, advocacy and public enlightenment.

According to her, the partnership would help take the anti-drug message beyond government institutions and into homes, schools, communities and other grassroots platforms.

Onyilo announced that INWOAD would host an International Women’s Leadership Summit in Abuja in October 2026, with drug abuse and its impact on women, young people, families and society expected to feature prominently among the issues to be addressed.

She invited the NDLEA to participate and provide technical support at the summit, describing the Agency as an indispensable partner in efforts to build a safer and healthier society.

The INWOAD President emphasised that women must be deliberately positioned at the forefront of prevention and advocacy because of their critical role in shaping families and influencing the wellbeing of children and communities.

She said the organisation’s partnership with the NDLEA would provide an opportunity to mobilise women as advocates for drug-free homes and communities.

The courtesy visit therefore opened a new chapter in the growing collaboration between the NDLEA, women’s organisations and the media, with both sides recognising that the drug crisis requires a whole-of-society response.

For the NDLEA, the fight is not limited to arresting traffickers, intercepting illicit substances and prosecuting offenders. It increasingly involves preventing drug use before it begins, educating vulnerable populations and mobilising families and communities to become active participants in the campaign.

The message from the NDLEA headquarters was clear: Nigeria’s drug problem cannot be solved by enforcement agencies alone. Government, civil society, women and youth organisations, the media, entertainers, traditional and religious leaders, families and communities must work together to protect the nation’s younger generation.

As the NDLEA continues its enforcement and prevention efforts, partnerships such as the proposed collaboration with INWOAD could provide additional platforms for taking the anti-drug campaign directly to the people and strengthening the collective resolve to build a healthier, safer and drug-free Nigeria.