Marwa Tasks Stakeholders on Emerging Drug Threats in Nigeria’s Next Master Plan

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has urged stakeholders developing Nigeria’s National Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP) 2026–2030 to ensure that it addresses new and evolving threats sustaining the illicit drug trade.

Marwa gave the charge on Monday, October 6, 2025, in Niger State, while declaring open a five-day workshop organised with funding from the ECOWAS Commission and support from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

“The NDCMP 2026–2030 must be visionary yet practical; comprehensive yet targeted; and nationally owned yet globally aligned,” Marwa said. “It must boldly address new and emerging threats, from synthetic drugs to dark-web trafficking and illicit financial flows.”

He emphasised that the new master plan should not just be another document but a collective vision to safeguard Nigeria’s health, security, and well-being. He also pledged NDLEA’s continued leadership and coordination to ensure effective implementation.

The UNODC Country Representative, Cheikh Ousmane, represented by Dr. Akanidomo Ibanga, commended Nigeria’s progress in drug control but stressed the need for adaptive and inclusive responses aligned with global standards and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Similarly, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, Prof. Fatou Sow Sarr, represented by Dr. Daniel Amankwaah, said Nigeria remains a key partner in regional drug control efforts. She assured that ECOWAS would continue to provide technical and financial support to strengthen Nigeria’s framework.

Other participants included representatives from the Federal Ministries of Education, Health, Agriculture, Budget and Planning, as well as NACA, NAFDAC, EFCC, and NFIU.