Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have unveiled a weeklong programme of events ahead of the 2026 World Drug Day.
They reaffirmed their commitment to combating drug trafficking and emerging threats from synthetic drugs and illicit online markets.
At the joint press briefing in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, on Friday, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), said this year’s World Drug Day theme, “The World Drug Problem: Persisting Issues, New Challenges, Innovative Responses”, reflects the rapidly evolving nature of the global narcotics trade and the need for modern, technology-driven countermeasures.
World Drug Day, observed annually on June 26, serves as a platform for governments, international organisations, and civil society groups to assess progress in combating drug abuse and trafficking while shaping policy priorities for the year ahead.
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Represented by the agency’s Secretary, Shadrach Haruna, the NDLEA Chief noted that traditional approaches alone could no longer address increasingly sophisticated criminal networks.
Accordimg to him, “This theme underscores the evolving dynamic of the global drug landscape. While old battlegrounds remain, new synthetic threats, sophisticated trafficking networks, and digital illicit markets have emerged, demanding proactive, technology-driven and highly innovative responses.”
Marwa said the NDLEA had modernised its operations while expanding prevention efforts through its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative, a nationwide campaign launched in 2021 to strengthen public awareness and community engagement.
According to him, the NDLEA’s “Offensive Action” campaign has intensified efforts against drug trafficking syndicates through arrests, prosecutions, and the seizure of assets linked to drug crimes under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
The NDLEA chief also attributed achievements to support from President Tinubu, state governments, international law-enforcement agencies, and partners such as the UNODC.
The UNODC warned that the global drug problem continues to evolve, requiring coordinated responses across national borders.
The weeklong commemoration, which began on June 19, features faith-based activities, an anti-drug walk, a student essay competition, civil society engagements, and outreach programmes for vulnerable youths across the FCT.
The events will culminate on June 26 at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, where government officials, diplomats, and international partners are expected to unveil new policy frameworks aimed at addressing contemporary drug-related challenges.
