The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has directed all field commanders of the Agency to intensify efforts aimed at dismantling drug cartels across the country as part of NDLEA’s operational priorities for 2026.
Marwa gave the directive during the Agency’s annual review and strategic planning meeting held at the NDLEA National Headquarters in Abuja. The meeting brought together senior management staff, zonal commanders, commanders from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as commanders of seaports, international airports, the Marine Unit, and heads of the Strike Force and Special Operations Units.
While outlining the Agency’s focus for the 2026 operational year, Marwa said NDLEA had entered the year on a solid footing, building on record-breaking achievements recorded in recent years. He described the coming year as a period of consolidation, with renewed emphasis on Drug Supply Reduction (DSR) and Drug Demand Reduction (DDR).
According to him, the Agency must remain proactive and relentless in cutting off the financial networks that sustain drug trafficking organizations, while ensuring sustained sensitization and advocacy against substance abuse in communities nationwide.
Marwa stressed that all commands must strictly adhere to the 2026 strategic work plan, adding that professionalism, discipline, and zero tolerance for compromise remain non-negotiable in NDLEA operations.
Reflecting on his five years at the helm of the Agency, he attributed the progress recorded so far to the dedication and collective efforts of officers and men across the country. He noted that the renewed confidence shown by the Federal Government in extending his tenure was a reflection of the measurable impact recorded through arrests, seizures, and successful prosecutions.
He urged commanders to prioritize intelligence gathering, surveillance, and detailed planning before carrying out operations, advising them to seek reinforcement where necessary rather than expose personnel to avoidable risks.
Marwa also called for an expansion of advocacy and sensitization programmes, particularly targeting schools, communities, and vulnerable groups, stressing that drug abuse prevention must be pursued with the same intensity as enforcement.
He further directed that State Drug Control Committees be fully activated in all states and extended to local government and ward levels, insisting that no state should be without a functional committee in 2026.
Reassuring the public, Marwa reaffirmed NDLEA’s commitment to safeguarding Nigerian youths and families from the dangers of illicit drugs, warning drug cartels that there would be no room for their operations anywhere in the country.
He also urged Nigerians to remain alert and continue to support the Agency by providing credible and timely information, noting that the fight against drug abuse and trafficking requires collective national effort.
