“Declare State of Emergency on Drug Abuse Now,” Marwa Urges Tinubu

The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (retd), has called on the administration of President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on drug abuse in Nigeria. Speaking at the Island Club Business Forum in Lagos, Marwa urged Nigerian elites and all stakeholders to adopt a whole-of-society approach to combat the growing scourge of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.

In his address, Marwa emphasized that addressing drug abuse is not the sole responsibility of the government but a collective effort involving all Nigerians. “The future of Nigeria belongs to us all,” he stated, encouraging every individual to take an active role in advocating against drug misuse. He added that spreading awareness about the dangers of drug abuse can prevent many young people from falling into addiction.

Since assuming leadership of the NDLEA three years ago, Marwa noted that the agency has intensified its efforts to reduce both drug demand and supply, yielding significant results. However, he highlighted the urgency of broad societal involvement in tackling the issue. Citing the 2021 World Drug Report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Marwa warned that drug use in Africa is projected to rise by 40% by 2030, particularly among the 25-34 age group due to population growth.

Marwa stressed that the future of Nigeria could either be promising or problematic, depending on the actions taken today to curb drug abuse. “Tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today,” he said, urging all sectors of society to contribute to this critical effort.

Other speakers at the event included Prof. Harry Ladapo, a consultant psychiatrist, and Prof. Lere Baale, President of the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy. Both experts underscored the devastating impact of drug abuse and reiterated the need for coordinated actions to safeguard the nation’s future.