President Bola Tinubu’s administration will keep bolstering the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) because of its strategic significance to Nigeria’s security framework, according to National Security Adviser (NSA) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
According to reports, Ribadu commissioned 46 new operational vehicles for deployment to critical commands and formations around the country during a speech on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja.
He acknowledged that under the leadership of Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, and his staff, the organization has become a result-oriented force that tackles the serious threats posed by illegal drugs that jeopardize our public health, social stability, and national security. Commissioning vehicles is not the only purpose of this event.
“Our fight is severely limited if we are unable to mobilize resources where they are most needed, intercept traffickers, and quickly reach danger locations. Drug trafficking and insecurity are linked in a systemic way. Drug earnings fuel criminal gangs, and they also provide funding for armed groups and insurgents. In a press statement issued on Wednesday by Femi Babafemi, Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Ribadu stated that “many young Nigerians become addicted, with disastrous repercussions for families and communities.”
Drug control is a key component of our national security strategy, according to the Renewed Hope Agenda, he continued, and he credited the President’s steadfast support through financing, interagency collaboration, and policy alignment for making the most recent milestone possible.
“To increase NDLEA’s operational presence, improve deterrence, and guarantee that no trafficker eludes justice, these vehicles will be deployed nationwide,” he stated, guaranteeing full support from the Office of the National Security Adviser and collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Customs Service, and NAFDAC.
To approach the commissioning as a new mandate, Ribadu urged NDLEA officers: “The NDLEA is not only building lives, but also restoring dignity and shaping national policy.” It is a call to action in the context of the epidemic. Keep an eye out, behave legally, and use these resources sensibly.
Marwa Verifies 40,887 Suspect Arrests, Recoveries, and Convictions
Gen. Marwa welcomed guests and said the ceremony represents the ongoing effort to reposition the Agency as a modern, effective, and respected organization. It also reflects the Tinubu administration’s ongoing commitment to equipping institutions that are at the forefront of public health and national security.
“Today’s event is a milestone, as NDLEA is now counted among a distinguished group of security and drug law enforcement agencies around the world that are similarly respected and making impacts, in addition to being visible in their operations,” he said.
The administration’s financial support under the Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes national stability, institutional reform, and the protection of every Nigerian life, enabled the vehicle procurement, Marwa said, thanking the President for his strategic and consistent support.
Marwa made a connection between drug usage and crime patterns, saying: “We know from both intelligence and experience that drug abuse and trafficking are central to many security challenges in the country.” Unquestionably, illegal drugs are a contributing factor in cult violence, armed robbery, insurgency, and kidnapping. Drug trafficking gives offenders more confidence, erodes their moral self-control, and replaces hope with recklessness. We follow our task with attention and commitment, and the results are evident, because drug control cannot be ignored in any genuine national security approach.
Two-year results under the current administration were cited by him, including: “40,887 drug offenders arrested (including 45 drug barons); over 5.5 million kilograms of various drugs seized; 704.445 hectares of cannabis farms destroyed; 8,682 convictions secured with asset forfeitures to the Federal Government; 24,173 drug users treated and rehabilitated across 30 rehab centers; and 8,698 War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities in schools, worship centers, workplaces, motor parks, and communities.”
According to Marwa, the NDLEA’s reaction will continue to develop with more accurate intelligence, increased community involvement, and—most importantly—better mobility and logistics, even as the illegal drug economy changes, taking advantage of young people who are at risk, permeable borders, and occasionally complicit players.
Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, praised Marwa’s leadership and the President’s backing.
“Drug trafficking and all of our crimes have a very, very close relationship,” he stated.
They give crooks more courage. And as it wears off, you find that they are simply regular people like you and me. When we are asked to present our report cards, I always recommend to start with NDLEA.
The purchase was described as “a significant boost to the Agency’s operational response capability and overall effectiveness” by Chief of Defense Staff Gen. Christopher Musa, who also stated that he thinks the expenditure will result in a stronger deterrent to those who aim to profit from this harmful trade.
Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, commended the President for placing individuals such as Marwa in top roles and stated that the vehicles passed rigorous due process.
“NDLEA serves as a model for other government organizations, in my opinion. These cars are suitable for their intended use after undergoing standardization, Adedokun said.
Ten sedan cars were sent to ten directorates, and 38 SUVs were sent to Zonal Commands, Strategic Commands, and State Commands across the country, the agency said.
The ceremony concluded with the decoration of fifteen newly promoted Commanders of Narcotics (CN) as Assistant Commander General of Narcotics (ACGN).
