NDLEA's Marwa Engages Traditional Rulers to Combat Drug Abuse

Brig-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), solicited the support of traditional rulers in the fight against drug abuse in Nigeria during a courtesy visit to the Oba of Benin in Benin City. Marwa emphasized that drug abuse is a significant issue in Nigeria, with over 15 million Nigerians affected, which is three times the global average.

He called for a collaborative effort involving traditional institutions, religious organizations, civil society organizations, the government, and the media. Marwa introduced a new strategy aimed at cannabis growers, encouraging them to switch to cultivating licit crops like cassava, yam, and corn.

He noted that 75% of the 16 million kilograms of illicit substances seized in the last six years were cannabis. The Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, expressed his support for the NDLEA's initiatives, while Marwa designated Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo as the agency’s Grand Patron of the World Against Drugs and Substance Abuse.