By Peter Omopo
The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), has set operational targets for the agency’s directors, zonal commanders and state commanders for the 2026 operational year, urging them to intensify efforts to dismantle drug cartels, supply chains and drug trafficking organisations across the country.
The directive was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, following the NDLEA’s annual review and planning meeting held at the agency’s national headquarters in Abuja.
According to the statement, Marwa addressed members of the NDLEA management, zonal commanders, heads of the 36 state commands and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as commanders of seaports, international airports, the marine unit, strike force and special operations units.
Marwa described 2026 as a year of “unprecedented consolidation” in the fight against illicit drugs, particularly in the areas of Drug Supply Reduction (DSR) and Drug Demand Reduction (DDR), and directed commanders to ensure seamless execution of the agency’s 2026 strategic work plan.
He noted that the agency had begun the year on a strong footing, building on the record-breaking achievements of previous years, but stressed that there was no room for complacency.
“The results we achieved last year were significant, but we cannot afford to rest on our oars. Our 2026 goals are clear: to completely disrupt the financial lifelines of drug cartels and ensure that every community in Nigeria is sensitised against the scourge of substance abuse,” Marwa said.
Reflecting on his time in office, the NDLEA boss attributed the progress recorded by the agency over the past five years to the collective efforts of its personnel, adding that the renewed confidence in the agency locally and internationally should motivate officers to deliver even greater results.
He also said the renewal of his tenure by President Bola Tinubu was a reflection of the performance of officers and men of the agency, noting that tangible results in the form of arrests, seizures and convictions remain the true measure of success.
Marwa further emphasised the need for discipline, professionalism and zero tolerance for compromise in all operations, urging commanders to prioritise thorough planning and intelligence gathering, and to seek reinforcement where operational capacity is limited.
He called for intensified advocacy and sensitisation efforts, particularly in schools and communities, and directed that State Drug Control Committees be strengthened and made functional in all states down to the local government and ward levels.
Reassuring the public, Marwa said the NDLEA remains fully committed to protecting Nigerian youths and families from the dangers of drug abuse and illicit trafficking, warning drug cartels that there would be no breathing space for their activities in 2026.
He also urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue to provide useful information to the agency, stressing that the fight against substance abuse and drug trafficking is a collective responsibility.
