The era of impunity for drug syndicates in Nigeria has officially ended. Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), Chairman of the NDLEA, revealed Tuesday, January 20 that a relentless five-year offensive has resulted in a staggering 14.8 million kilograms of drugs seized and the conviction of over 14,000 offenders. With 128 barons now behind bars, Marwa declared that the agency has effectively stripped criminal enterprises of their sanctuary.
In a statement released Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy Femi Babafemi reported that Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) has challenged his workforce to evolve. Speaking at the 11th CCEO Awards and Commendation ceremony, Marwa charged officers to prepare for “tactically sophisticated operations” as the Agency enters a decisive second tenure aimed at dismantling the networks of drug barons and their mules.
Marwa said:
“When I first resumed in 2021, I promised to take the fight to the doorsteps of the merchants of death. Today, the numbers speak for themselves. Through our collective resilience, we have sent a clear message that Nigeria is no longer a safe haven for illicit drug enterprise.
“It’s therefore heartwarming to note that in the last five years, we recorded significant operational successes including the arrest of 77,792 drug offenders, including 128 identified drug barons who were central to major trafficking networks. We seized a total of 14,847,486.34 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs, thereby significantly disrupting both local and transnational supply chains.
“In further strengthening the criminal justice response to drug offences, the Agency successfully prosecuted and secured convictions against 14,225 offenders, reinforcing deterrence and affirming that drug crime attracts consequences.
“In line with our balanced approach, the Agency also prioritised drug demand reduction. Through structured treatment, counselling, and rehabilitation programmes, 32,442 drug users received professional intervention. Additionally, 13,735 War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities were conducted across schools, motor parks, workplaces, worship centres, and communities, expanding preventive awareness and citizen engagement nationwide”, he stated while highlighting the results of the last half-decade drug control efforts of the Agency under his leadership.
Noting that the achievements would not have been possible without the support of the executive, legislature and the judiciary.
Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) expressed his profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his steadfast support and the confidence placed in his leadership. He noted that the President’s decision to renew the current administration’s mandate serves as a clear directive to elevate the offensive against drug abuse and trafficking to unprecedented heights.
“These achievements are not accidental. They are the result of discipline, leadership, intelligence-led operations, and clear performance expectations. This journey would not have been possible without the unflinching support of the President. I therefore wish to express my profound appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for the absolute trust he has reposed in my leadership and in the entire workforce of this Agency.
“Mr. President’s decision to extend our mandate is a call to more work. We assure him, and indeed all Nigerians, that the successes of the past five years are merely a foundation. In this second tenure, we will escalate the war against drug abuse and trafficking to new heights of efficiency and results”, he stated.
Marwa issued a stern charge to his officers: “The road ahead requires more grit and smarter tactics. Our goal is total clearance: no baron left free, no trafficker undetected, and no illicit drugs on our streets. We will continue this offensive until the last gram is removed from Nigeria.
“There is no room for complacency. We must remain proactive, intelligence-led, and ruthless in our pursuit of those who seek to destroy our youth and our national security.
Let me be clear: the objective of this Agency remains the total disruption of drug trafficking and the protection of our communities. The expectation is sustained pressure until every drug baron, trafficker, courier, and every gram of illicit drugs is taken out of our streets and communities. There will be no retreat and no complacency.”
While
Celebrating Excellence, the 11th CCEO Awards spotlighted the heroes of the drug war—men and women who have demonstrated remarkable bravery in the line of duty. Marwa charged the recipients to carry their awards as a badge of honor and a reminder that hard work never goes unnoticed, while challenging the rest of the force to draw inspiration from their colleagues’ success to reach new heights.
“As we are all aware, the Commands Awards and Commendations is an internal reward mechanism that comes after our bi-annual appraisal. It is enshrined in our corporate culture and acts as a booster to individual and collective commitment to the attainment of organisational goals. I believe that everyone in this organisation is in accord that we now have a sense of urgency towards our assignment.
“There is no gainsaying that our dedication to duty has been the driving force behind our good performance; at the same time, it is also not an exaggeration to say that our good performance is catalysed by motivation. As proven right by events in the past five years, management’s decision to deploy multipronged motivational mechanism to improve the organisation’s work ethic is part of the recipe for the resurgence of the Agency and the resultant spectacular performance. On that score, management is committed to doing everything possible to improve productivity on the job. Part of that effort is why we are here today.”
In a s shared mission, Marwa extended his gratitude to the global partners, sister agencies, and media practitioners whose collaboration has fueled the NDLEA’s progress. Looking ahead, he issued a call for even deeper synergy, noting that strengthening these strategic partnerships is essential to building a safer, drug-free future for the next generation of Nigerians.
