The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), has called for increased support from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in key areas critical to Nigeria’s fight against drug abuse and illicit trafficking.
Marwa made this appeal on Wednesday, when he received the new UNODC Country Representative in Nigeria, Mr. Cheikh Ousmane Toure, and his delegation at the agency’s national headquarters in Abuja.
According to a statement by the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, the meeting provided an opportunity to strengthen the existing partnership between both organisations in tackling the drug problem in Nigeria and across West Africa.
While appreciating UNODC for its support over the years, Marwa outlined specific areas where further assistance is needed.
“These include: Drug Use Survey: He emphasised the need for an updated drug use survey, noting that the last comprehensive assessment was conducted in 2018.
“We need a reassessment to determine the current prevalence, emerging trends, and the evolving drug abuse landscape. Marwa pointed out that the current NDCMP (2021–2025) would soon expire, necessitating the development of a new framework to guide Nigeria’s drug control efforts in the coming years.
“Alternative Development Programme: He urged UNODC to support NDLEA’s pioneering initiative in Africa, which seeks to provide alternative livelihoods for cannabis growers.
“If we can successfully transition them to legal and sustainable means of income, it will benefit both them and society,” Marwa explained.
Highlighting the need for enhanced workforce capabilities, he called for more training programs and master trainers to strengthen NDLEA’s personnel.
“The success of any organisation depends on the quality of its human resources. Capacity building is crucial for us to maintain our effectiveness,” he noted.
Marwa also requested the provision of portable drug test kits to enable NDLEA operatives to conduct efficient on-the-spot substance identification in the field.
In response, UNODC’s Country Representative, Cheikh Ousmane Toure, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to deepening its collaboration with NDLEA.
He acknowledged the agency’s leadership role in Africa’s drug enforcement efforts and expressed willingness to work with Nigeria in extending its successful initiatives to the state level.
Toure further stressed that drug abuse remains a significant contributor to security challenges across the region, making it imperative for all stakeholders to collaborate in addressing the menace effectively.