The National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will continue to strengthen the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) because of its strategic value to the nation’s security architecture.

Ribadu stated this at the commissioning of 46 new vehicles for NDLEA’s strategic commands and formations at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja. He commended the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Buba Marwa, and his team for their sustained commitment, discipline, and energy in transforming the NDLEA into a result-oriented force against illicit drugs.

“I commend the Chairman, General Mohamed Buba Marwa, for his discipline, commitment, and transformative leadership. Under his watch, NDLEA has become a result-oriented force addressing the grave threats posed by illicit drugs that undermine our national security, social stability, and public health,” Ribadu said.

“This event is not just about commissioning vehicles. Without the mobility to swiftly reach danger points, intercept traffickers and move resources where they are most needed, our fight is severely constrained.

The link between drug trafficking and insecurity is systemic. Criminal gangs thrive on drug profits. Insurgents and armed groups fund their activities with it. Countless young Nigerians fall victim to addiction, with devastating consequences for families and communities,” he added.

Ribadu said the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu prioritises drug control as a pillar of national security strategy. “The President’s unwavering support through funding, inter-agency cooperation, and policy alignment has directly enabled today’s milestone,” he noted.

He pledged full backing for the NDLEA, saying the vehicles would boost operational presence, strengthen deterrence, and ensure no trafficker escapes justice. He urged officers to view the commissioning as a call to action — to do more, remain vigilant, act within the law, and uphold the highest standards of professionalism.

“The NDLEA is not only building lives, but also restoring dignity and shaping national policy. Use these resources responsibly, act within the law, and remain vigilant,” Ribadu said.

In his welcome address, Marwa said the event reflected both the government’s commitment to equipping frontline institutions and the NDLEA’s transformation into a respected and effective agency.

“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 not only visible in their operations but equally respected and making impacts,” Marwa said.

He thanked President Tinubu for his strategic support, noting that under the Renewed Hope Agenda, national stability, institutional reform, and the safety of Nigerian lives remain top priorities.

Marwa highlighted that in the past two years, NDLEA arrested 40,887 drug offenders, including 45 drug barons, seized over 5.5 million kilograms of illicit substances, destroyed 704.445 hectares of cannabis farms, and secured 8,682 convictions.

“Equally important is the fact that 24,173 drug users have been treated and rehabilitated, while 8,698 sensitisation activities were carried out nationwide. These clearly create a fair balance between our drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts,” he said.

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, praised Tinubu for enabling NDLEA’s achievements, saying: “Without an understanding President, it would be very difficult to have this type of gathering today. Whenever we are asked to showcase our report card, I’m very quick to say put NDLEA first.”

Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, also commended NDLEA’s resilience, describing the vehicle procurement as a “significant boost to the agency’s operational response capability and overall effectiveness in the fight against drug trafficking and substance abuse.”

Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, congratulated Tinubu for appointing Marwa, describing NDLEA as “an example for other agencies of government” in due process and operational standards.

A total of 38 SUVs were distributed to zonal, strategic, and state commands, while 10 sedan cars went to NDLEA’s directorates. Fifteen newly promoted Commanders of Narcotics were also decorated with their new rank of Assistant Commander General of Narcotics at the ceremony.

PIAK

Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has condemned the treatment of airline passenger Ms. Comfort Emmanson, captured in viral videos showing her being forcefully removed from an Ibom Air flight and later exposed in a compromising manner.

At a press briefing in Abuja, NHRC Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, said the incident — and the public dissemination of the footage — amounted to a “clear affront to human dignity,” stressing that such acts “have no place in a civilised society.”

He emphasised that the prohibition of torture and inhuman treatment is an “absolute and non-derogable right” under Nigerian, African, and global human rights law. Citing Section 34 of Nigeria’s constitution, the UN Convention Against Torture, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Ojukwu said the passenger’s dignity and privacy were severely violated.

The NHRC also criticised the recording and viral spread of the incident online, describing it as “a secondary form of harm.”

The Commission welcomed recent government actions addressing this case and another involving ValueJet Airline and musician Wasiu Ayinde Marshall but insisted that “all human rights issues arising from both cases should be thoroughly addressed in the interest of rule of law and justice.”

Ojukwu urged airlines to adopt clear protocols and provide staff training to handle disputes without resorting to force or humiliation, warning that companies could be held accountable for rights abuses under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

The NHRC called on aviation authorities to review passenger-handling procedures to ensure compliance with human rights standards and pressed prosecutors to act swiftly against those implicated under Nigeria’s Anti-Torture Act.

The Commission also issued an unprecedented advisory to all aviation stakeholders on “the right to dignity and protection against torture, inhuman and degrading treatment in aviation operations.”

Ojukwu pledged continued monitoring to ensure Ms. Emmanson, other passengers, and airline staff are protected, and that those responsible are held fully accountable.

PIAK