President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to combating substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking by prioritising evidence-based and innovative interventions while strengthening prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and law enforcement efforts across the country.
The President gave this assurance on Friday, the 26th, 2026, in Abuja during the grand finale of celebrations, marking the 2026 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
Represented at the event by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, the President noted that the federal government is confronting these challenges through a well-coordinated, multifaceted approach.
Reflecting on this year’s theme, “The World Drug Problem: Persisting Issues, New Challenges, Innovative Responses”, the President emphasised that the evolving nature of the global drug problem demands constant vigilance, adaptability, and collective action.
He noted that the consequences of the drug scourge extend far beyond individual users, severely disrupting families, schools, workplaces, and overall national security.
“My administration remains committed to creating an environment in which young Nigerians can thrive and succeed. Through the Renewed Hope Agenda, we are expanding access to education, promoting skills development, supporting entrepreneurship, creating employment opportunities and implementing social interventions that address some of the underlying factors that make individuals vulnerable to substance abuse and criminal recruitment.
“At the same time, we recognise that reducing demand must be matched by decisive action to disrupt supply. This requires stronger border management, enhanced surveillance of ports, airports, seaports and land crossings, improved intelligence gathering and closer collaboration among national, regional and international law enforcement agencies. Criminal organisations operate across borders, and our response must be equally coordinated and effective.”
The President noted that science, technology and reliable data have become indispensable tools in this effort. “We must continue to strengthen our capacity to collect, analyse and apply data so that emerging trends are identified early, interventions are properly evaluated and strategic decisions are informed by facts.”
“As illicit drug markets evolve, our ability to detect and identify drugs and precursor chemicals must evolve as well. Strengthening forensic laboratories, enhancing technological capabilities and supporting scientific research will remain essential if we are to stay ahead of emerging threats.
“Our criminal justice system must continue to receive the support it needs to deal effectively with drug-related crimes. Law enforcement officers, investigators, prosecutors and the courts all have important roles to play in ensuring that criminal organisations are disrupted and offenders are held accountable under the law,” he said.
President Tinubu commended the leadership and personnel of the NDLEA, led by Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), for their outstanding fight against drug trafficking, urging governments, civil society, international partners, and citizens to unite in tackling the global drug menace.
In his welcome remark, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, disclosed that in the last 18 months alone, the Agency has made a total of 29,262 arrests leading to the seizure of 5,305,484.88 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs valued at over N1.5 Trillion and the conviction of 5,225 offenders.
Marwa also made known that Nigeria stands in lockstep with the global community, while reaffirming the country’s unyielding resolve against one of the most persistent threats to public health, national security, social stability, and human development.
“This operation led to the historic arrest of a 63-year-old Nigerian drug baron, Innocent Anochili, alongside three Mexican nationals and six other Nigerian accomplices, completely disrupting a major synthetic drug pipeline.
“And closely coming on the heels of this was the discovery of yet another industrial-scale clandestine meth laboratory deep in the forest of Tapa village, Ibarapa North LGA, Oyo State, where a Mexican and four others were arrested and their multibillion-naira infrastructure of death shut down and dismantled.
“To those who think they can operate with impunity, our recent spectacular operational breakthroughs send an unmistakable message: there is no safe haven.”
In a laudable transnational intelligence sharing, the NDLEA, in seamless collaboration with the US DEA and law enforcement authorities from Greece, France, and Switzerland, successfully dismantled the notorious Amadi Simon drug cartel.
“With the same zeal and vigour, we have effectively neutralised a highly sophisticated, cross-continental methamphetamine cartel.
“These numbers represent more than just data; they represent millions of lives saved, billions of naira in criminal wealth confiscated, and a future reclaimed for our youths.”
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), said the agency is complementing enforcement with expanded drug prevention, treatment and rehabilitation programmes; innovative technologies; and Africa’s first Alternative Development Programme to curb drug abuse and provide sustainable livelihoods.
He thanked President Bola Tinubu, development partners, civil society, the media, and NDLEA personnel for their support, expressing confidence that sustained collaboration and innovation would help build a safer, healthier, and drug-free Nigeria.
Delivering the guest lecture titled “Celebrating Progress and Inspiring Collective Actions against Drug Abuse”, Prof. Oluwatoyin Odeku of the Department of Pharmaceuticals and Industrial Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, noted reasons to celebrate the milestones achieved in the fight against illicit drugs in the past five years.
“First, let us celebrate. Because celebration fuels courage. When NDLEA was re-energised in 2021, many thought the drug war was unwinnable. Today, the data tells a different story, and we have reasons to celebrate,” she stated.
