NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has called for stronger collaboration with the media to confront Nigeria’s rising substance abuse challenge, describing the country as being “at the centre” of Africa’s growing drug problem. Represented by Deputy Director Mrs. Rita Geh, Marwa spoke on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at the Nigerian Online Media Alliance, NOMA, Capacity Building Programme in Lagos to mark the 2026 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Themed “Responsible Media, Drug-Free Nigeria: The Journalist’s Role in Prevention and Advocacy,” the event at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, gathered journalists, health experts, policymakers, and advocates.
Marwa warned that Africa’s drug use could rise 40% by 2030, with Nigeria’s 2018 survey showing 14.4% prevalence versus a 5.6% global average. He said while enforcement is critical, prevention, education, and community action are key to sustainable impact. Citing NDLEA results, he noted over 77,859 arrests, 14,122 convictions, and more than 15 million kilograms of illicit drugs seized in recent years, including over 19,000 arrests and about 3,000 convictions in the first 10 months of 2025 alone. He stressed that demand reduction is the ultimate solution, and that journalists, as “shapers of perception,” must prioritize accuracy, public education, and recovery-focused stories over sensationalism.
The NDLEA boss urged media practitioners to counter misinformation, amplify prevention messages for young people, and hold institutions accountable on drug policy and public health. He linked the campaign to NDLEA’s school sensitization, community outreach, rehabilitation services, and the nationwide War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, which he said has reached millions, especially youths. Marwa also called on parents, teachers, religious leaders, and community influencers to promote early education and open conversations. “The vision of a drug-free Nigeria is not a distant dream. It is achievable through commitment, consistency, and collective action,” he concluded.
