Nigeria’s NDLEA has won the backing of key international partners, with the EU, UNODC, and ECOWAS promising full cooperation in the country’s anti-narcotics campaign over the next five years. The global bodies praised the agency’s success in changing the narrative surrounding Nigeria’s drug image. This joint commitment will drive the nation’s renewed push to eradicate substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking across West Africa.
In a statement released on Monday, May 18, the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, noted that the commitment was made during the opening session of a two-day consultative forum for the National Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP). The event, organized by the anti-narcotics agency, commenced in Abuja on Monday to map out the country’s next strategic phase.
Delivering the European Union’s goodwill message, Mr. Zissimos Vergos, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, reaffirmed Europe’s readiness to bolster Nigeria’s drug control initiatives. Highlighting the shared nature of the crisis, Vergos noted: “Our presence here today is that of partners who have walked this uphill, rough road ourselves. We believe deeply that Nigeria’s stability and Europe’s security are inseparable. What affects the youth of Maiduguri or the streets of Ibadan does not stay within Nigerian borders. Drug trafficking is a transnational challenge, and this master plan is Nigeria’s vital contribution to a global response.”
“Nigeria has the talent; Nigeria has the institutions. Nigeria has the experience of having faced and surmounted enormous challenges before. What we have today is a roadmap, a new roadmap. We in the European Union, we are here as partners to build it together. I think we owe this to every Nigerian family that has been touched by addiction, by trafficking, by grief, or by the quiet despair of watching someone they love lose themselves. The same applies for every European family. Let us not leave this forum without giving them reason for hope. The European Union has also updated its own drug strategy and action plan. One of its main pillars is stronger international cooperation. We are here today to affirm this.”
Praising the anti-narcotics agency’s workforce, he lauded their ongoing institutional commitment. “In closing, I can only commend the hierarchy and the staff of the National Drug and Law Enforcement Agency, their leadership, and all stakeholders for your dedication. I think together we can turn the master plan into tangible progress, saving lives, securing communities, and fostering a healthier, safer future for Nigeria, for West Africa, for the African continent, for Europe, for the world,” he added.
The UNODC Country Representative, Cheikh Ousmane Touré, warned that the global drug landscape is undergoing a massive shift. Speaking at the summit, Touré emphasized that this evolution is driven by the surge in synthetic narcotics, increasingly complex trafficking networks, and the aggressive use of new technologies to scale up illicit black markets.
“Nigeria stands at the intersections of this. This underscores the urgency of developing a master plan that is not only comprehensive and balanced but also data-driven, forward-looking, and adaptable to emerging threats. UNODC remains fully committed to supporting Nigeria in this endeavour. Our partnership with NDLEA and the Government of Nigeria continues to grow from strengthening law enforcement capacity to advancing drug demand reduction to promoting evidence-based prevention and treatment, and enhancing international cooperation.
“As we look ahead, we see this master plan as an opportunity to deepen impact, to strengthen data systems, to reinforce institutions across all levels of governance, and to ensure that the response is people-centered, inclusive, and sustainable. Let me assure you that UNODC will continue to stand with Nigeria as a committed partner, bringing global expertise, technical support, and shared vision for a safer and healthier society in Nigeria, West Africa, and in Africa”, the UN chief stated.
Opening the forum, NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (Rtd) cautioned against early celebrations, urging stakeholders to confront a rapidly evolving narcotics threat. “UNODC projections suggest a 40% spike in drug use across Africa by 2030,” Marwa stated, citing reports from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) that flag West Africa as a primary transit corridor for Latin American cocaine heading to Europe. He added: “Our drug landscape is becoming increasingly complex as we battle the surge of synthetic substances and prescription drug abuse; the rise of poly-drug use and New Psychoactive Substances (NPS); the digitalization of the drug trade, where encrypted platforms and dark-web operations shield illicit assets from traditional law enforcement.”
“As Africa’s most populous nation and largest economy, Nigeria cannot afford to be a passive observer. The risks to our youth, our workforce, and our national security are too high. This forum is therefore our battle room for the next five years. Our primary objective is to finalize the Zero Draft of the NDCMP 2026–2030—a roadmap built on the rigorous summative evaluation of our previous cycle.
“The new plan introduces two critical pillars to our strategy, that is: the Alternative Development and Sustainable Livelihoods that address the socio-economic drivers of the drug trade, as well as disrupting the illicit drug economy, using financial intelligence to choke the lifeblood of trafficking networks.”
While acknowledging the invaluable support of local and international partners—particularly the UNODC and ECOWAS—in drafting the 2026–2030 NDCMP, the NDLEA boss urged the gathered experts and stakeholders to remember that the drug crisis is not an abstract concept or a mere set of statistics. Instead, Marwa reminded them that it is “a daily reality in our homes, our schools, and our streets. We are here not just as policy-makers and experts, but as parents, citizens, and guardians of the next generation.”
“Despite our different backgrounds, our goal is singular, and that is a drug-free Nigeria. I urge you to use the next two days to think boldly. Challenge the status quo. Propose innovations. Your inputs will determine the trajectory of our nation’s safety for the next half-decade. I look forward to a final NDCMP 2026–2030 that stands as a roadmap of hope and promise for a safer, healthier Nigeria”, Marwa added.
Highlighting Nigeria’s role as a regional leader, ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs Dr. Daniel Amankwaah praised the NDLEA’s performance. Affirming their long-term commitment, Amankwaah said, “The Nigerian master plan is so important to the ECOWAS Commission because it is out of it that we generate some of the contents for some of our member states. So, this is a very crucial moment for us, and we are so happy that the support that we gave to the NDLEA has been well utilized, and we can see the results. So, I want to just convey our message that ECOWAS Commission is ever ready and we are going to accompany you, not only to have this plan in place, but also during the implementation, so that we will make our society safer than what we have.”
Bringing the education sector into the alliance, Minister of State for Education Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad lauded the NDLEA for shielding Nigerian youths from the drug epidemic. Ahmad noted:
“The agency’s efforts in advocacy, enforcement, rehabilitation, and stakeholders’ collaboration continue to make a meaningful impact in protecting communities and restoring hope to affected individuals and families. As we work collectively to develop a robust and responsive National Drug Control Master Plan, it is important that we adopt a holistic and multi-sectoral approach that integrates education, healthcare, law enforcement, community engagement, and social support systems. Such collaboration is essential to addressing both the root causes and consequences of substance abuse in our society.
“I therefore urge participants at this forum to engage constructively, share valuable insights, and develop practical recommendations that will strengthen Nigeria’s drug control framework and ensure a sustainable outcome for future generations.”
The event also saw heavy-hitting legislative and civic backing from Senator Joseph Igiagbe Ikpea (Chairman, Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics), represented by Sir Sebastian Ukpokoloh, and Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu (DG, National Orientation Agency), represented by Robinson Okechi.
