NDLEA Honours 166 Personnel, 17 Commands for Outstanding Service, Mull Creating More Commands to Boost Operations
Oru Leonard
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has honoured 166 personnel and 17 commands with awards and commendations for their exceptional service and bravery in the fight against drug trafficking. The ceremony, held at the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja, marked the 11th Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CCEO) awards and commendation ceremony.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig-Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the awardees for their dedication and courage, urging them to continue their good work. He emphasized that the agency will not relent in its pursuit of drug cartels and barons, and that officers must remain proactive and ruthless in their efforts. ¹ ²
Marwa highlighted the agency’s achievements, including the arrest of 77,792 drug offenders, conviction of 14,225, and seizure of over 14.8 million kilograms of illicit drugs in the past five years. He attributed the successes to intelligence-led operations, discipline, and strong institutional support.
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
“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.
The NDLEA boss also announced plans to create five new strategic commands and deploy body cameras for operational efficiency. He urged officers to remain committed to the agency’s core values of integrity, hard work, and transparency.
