…….Marwa urges traditional leaders to take an active role in eradicating the menace of substance abuse within communities
Oba Abimbola Owoade I, the Alaafin of Oyo, pledged support and collaboration to the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), in the ongoing effort to curb substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria.”
The development was communicated via a statement released on Friday, December 12, 2025, by the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
The traditional ruler offered his assurance while leading a delegation of two fellow royal fathers—the Oloro of Oro, Oba Joel Olaniyan Olatoye, and the Olusin of Ijara Isin, Oba Ademola Julius Ajibola—on a courtesy visit to Chairman Marwa at the Agency’s national headquarters in Abuja.
The Alaafin concluded by noting his pride in Marwa’s leadership trajectory and his title as “Atunluse of Yoruba land.”
The Alaafin said:
” to be kind with you, we are proud of you. You’re in this position at the moment is not just by chance, it’s because of your devotion, your commitment. You have this amiable character. That’s why you can govern Borno and Lagos State, and you have always been a performer.
”Another thing which I can’t forget about you is the legacy of Keke Marwa that you brought to Nigeria.”
In a direct response to the Chairman’s call for traditional rulers to support the national anti-drug campaign, the Alaafin of Oyo affirmed his commitment to mobilising his fellow royal fathers to work closely with the Agency. A Grassroots Pledge: “We are more than ready to collaborate,” Oba Owoade declared.
“We operate at the grassroots level; we are close to our community members and are fully aware of the local dynamics of this crisis. We stand prepared to provide all necessary support to ensure your success. The royal fathers will always be there when needed.”
The NDLEA Chairman, Brig Gen. Marwa (Rtd) Urges Royal Fathers: “Leverage Your Influence to Stamp Out the Drug Scourge.” During his welcome remarks, Marwa congratulated the Alaafin on his ascension to the throne and challenged him, along with other traditional rulers, to leverage their significant local influence to collaborate with the NDLEA in eradicating substance abuse from communities. Highlighting the gravity of the crisis, Marwa stated,
“The drug scourge in Nigeria has reached an unacceptable limit. The 2018 drug use survey revealed that nearly 14.3 million Nigerians aged 15 to 64 engage in drug use—a problem almost three times the global average”.
He emphasized the presidential mandate:
“We have been directed by President Tinubu to stand up, fight this scourge, arrest those responsible, prosecute them, and seize their assets. To achieve this, we crucially need the involvement of our vital traditional institutions.”
“Nigerians respect the traditional institutions. Whoever you are in Nigeria, you still come from somewhere. And when you go back to that place, you pay homage to whoever is the leader of the community. So when the traditional leader speaks, it carries weight. And equally, we plead for traditional leaders to also engage the religious leaders in charge of churches and mosques in their domains, and they should do serious advocacy against the use of drugs. The NDLEA is always prepared to work with the traditional institution.”
The statement added that NDLEA Seeks further Community intelligence.
Marwa emphasized the critical need for intelligence sharing, asking traditional rulers to provide information on local drug dealers who threaten the nation’s youth and families.
He highlighted the importance of controlling substance abuse in reducing criminality:
“If we can control drug use, even the criminalities will come down.
” The Chairman concluded by expressing profound appreciation for the Alaafin’s visit, wishing His Imperial Majesty a long and successful reign marked by good health, peace, development, and prosperity throughout the Oyo Kingdom.”
