Nigeria’s war against illicit drugs has recorded sweeping gains over the past five years, with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arresting 77,792 suspects, securing 14,225 convictions and confiscating about 14.8 million kilograms of assorted narcotics nationwide.
Chairman/Chief Executive of the agency, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), disclosed the figures on Tuesday while speaking at the NDLEA’s bi-annual Chief Executive Officers (CCEO) Awards and Commendation Ceremony, where outstanding officers and commands were celebrated for exceptional service.
Marwa said the achievements reflected sustained intelligence-led operations, improved inter-agency collaboration and renewed commitment by officers across the country to dismantle drug networks.
He noted that the seizures cut across major drug corridors, airports, seaports, land borders and urban centres significantly disrupting the supply chains of traffickers and criminal syndicates.
At the ceremony, 166 NDLEA personnel and 17 state commands received honours for operational excellence, professionalism and integrity.
The NDLEA boss praised the awardees for their courage and dedication, describing them as the backbone of the agency’s progress.
He, however, urged officers not to rest on past successes, charging them to intensify pressure on drug cartels and high-profile barons.
According to him, the evolving tactics of traffickers demand relentless enforcement, stronger intelligence gathering and unwavering ethical standards.
Marwa reaffirmed the agency’s resolve to deepen reforms, protect officers’ welfare and work with stakeholders to curb drug abuse and trafficking, stressing that the fight remains critical to national security, public health and economic stability.
