Marwa Says New Drug Control Master Plan To Deepen Crackdown, Strengthen Public Health Response

By Abraham Olatunbosun—

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd) has declared that the forthcoming National Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP) 2026–2030 will mark a decisive new phase in Nigeria’s fight against illicit drugs, addiction, and related criminal networks.

Speaking on Thursday at the agency’s national headquarters in Abuja, Marwa, while receiving the final summative evaluation report on the implementation of the 2021–2025 master plan, described the review as both a scorecard of progress and a compass for future reforms.

He said the next five-year framework is being designed to consolidate operational gains recorded in recent years while closing critical gaps, particularly in prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation.

“With the depth of preparation and the seriousness attached to the 2026–2030 Master Plan, its execution will significantly strengthen our ongoing drug control efforts,” Marwa said. “When fully implemented, it will deliver measurable improvements in public health outcomes and reinforce national security.”

According to him, Nigeria’s drug challenge remains intertwined with organised crime, insurgency financing, and youth vulnerability, making a comprehensive and coordinated response imperative.

He stressed that the new master plan will further integrate supply reduction strategies—such as seizures, arrests, and dismantling of trafficking syndicates—with demand reduction efforts, including education, counselling, and community-based rehabilitation programmes.

Marwa commended the evaluation team led by Prof. Ibrahim Wakama of the University of Maiduguri for what he described as a rigorous and objective assessment of the 2021–2025 plan.

“I must commend your diligence and professionalism,” he said. “Your recognition of the successes achieved under both the drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction pillars is well appreciated. We must build on these gains as we move into the next cycle.”

The NDLEA chief expressed confidence that under the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu, the agency would achieve even greater milestones in safeguarding communities from the devastating impact of narcotics and psychotropic substances.

Earlier, Prof. Wakawa praised Marwa’s leadership, noting that the agency had exceeded many of the targets set in the 2021–2025 framework. He said the evaluation revealed substantial progress in operational efficiency, inter-agency coordination, and public awareness campaigns.

While acknowledging areas that require strengthening—particularly in drug demand reduction—Wakawa voiced optimism that the NDLEA would address identified gaps through improved policy alignment, resource deployment, and stakeholder collaboration under the new master plan.

He was joined by Mrs. Ngozi Oguejiofor and Mrs. Ibiba Odili, both retired Assistant Commanders General of Narcotics and former heads of the NDCMP secretariat, who contributed to the evaluation process.

The National Drug Control Master Plan serves as Nigeria’s central policy blueprint for combating drug trafficking and substance abuse. It aligns law enforcement operations with prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and multi-sectoral engagement—an approach authorities say is essential to confronting a drug crisis that threatens both public health and national stability.

With preparations for the 2026–2030 plan nearing completion, stakeholders say its implementation could define the next chapter of Nigeria’s anti-drug campaign, combining tougher enforcement with a more expansive public health response.