Government’s counter-narcotics’ strategy working, says HURIWA

Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has showered President Bola Tinubu’s administration with praises for  sustaining the massive war on hard drugs and illicit substances which the Rights group said is working optimally.

HURIWA said that the administration has achieved insurmountable excellence in the coordinated war on drugs which has gone on under the current dispensation and has attracted global acclaim to National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) under the capable leadership of Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa.

A statement signed by the national coordinator of HURIWA, Emmanuel Onwubiko, on Wednesday, said there is hardly any doubt in the minds of doubting Thomases that the current administration’s counter-narcotics strategy is working, crediting it as the reason several advanced nations have approached the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for collaboration and partnerships.

“HURIWA believes that the admirable efforts the NDLEA has made in waging relentless and massively successful counter-narcotics war is a wonderful legacy that would stand a test of time because of the good image that the nation’s counter-narcotics strategy has attracted to Nigeria since the last three years and particularly under the current dispensation.

“Government’s counter-narcotics blueprint is indeed working which is never in doubt just as HURIWA said the shining examples of the NDLEA under the current dispensation has attracted international partnerships by advanced and sophisticated nations who are lining up in their numbers to enter into workable Memorandum of Understanding with the resilient NDLEA under General Mohammed Buba Marwa,” the group said.

Recall that the NDLEA and the United Kingdom’s Home Office International Operations (HOIO) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at intensifying the fight against transnational organized crime, especially illicit drug trafficking between Nigeria and the UK.

The MoU was signed on Monday, May 26, 2025, at the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Regional Manager (West Africa) of HOIO, Mr. Ian Cunliffe, expressed his appreciation for the strong collaboration between the two agencies. He acknowledged the productive relationship established by his predecessor, Christopher Hawksfield, and reaffirmed his commitment to building on that foundation.

“I’d like to thank the chairman for his time and the gracious welcome. The relationship between HOIO and NDLEA has been really productive, and I’m keen to enhance that as we enter this new phase of partnership,” Cunliffe said.

NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), described the MoU as more than a legal agreement, calling it a reaffirmation of mutual trust and cooperation.

“This MoU reflects our unwavering dedication to safeguarding the lives and futures of our nations,” Marwa stated.

Besides, HURIWA recalled with admiration that the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), and Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen the war on drug trafficking, boost intelligence sharing and improve coordination between the two countries.

According to Buba Marwa, the NDLEA Chairman, the Nigerian government has been partnering with the US government in training and providing operational equipment and logistics to strengthen efforts in stopping inflow and outflow of illegal drugs.

“But we still need more of such assistance to ensure we go after the criminals and in a hard way,” Marwa said.

“We will be hard against drug criminals. We will be serious. We are going to rid this country of the illicit drugs trade, trafficking and consumption.”

“But in carrying out this onerous task, I will take this opportunity to seek for more of your support for the agency to enable us to move faster.”

“I must thank the US government for all the support NDLEA has received through the years,” he added.

HURIWA commended the achievements of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency under the current administration which made massive arrests of  14, 480 suspected drug traffickers between January and October 2024 in connection with the seizure of 2.4 million kilograms of assorted illicit drugs by the anti-narcotics agency at seaports, airports, land borders and communities across the country.

The Chairman of the agency, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), stated this factually accurate story while briefing members of the House of Representatives Committee on Narcotic Drugs who were on an oversight visit to the national headquarters in Abuja.

Marwa, in a statement by the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said the record of work done in the past 10 months could perhaps beat the performance of the previous three years.

He said, “Between January 1 and October 30, 2024, we recorded 14, 480 arrests of drug offenders, including 15 drug barons. Within the same time, we have been able to secure 2,867 convictions in court. This is far more than what we have achieved in each of the past three years. Our seizures in 10 months amounted to 2.4 million kilograms of illicit drugs, which also surpassed last year’s record. We successfully located and destroyed 547, 378 kilograms of cannabis plantations.

HURIWA said the National Security Adviser Malam Nuhu Ribadu was right when he affirmed that the Federal Government prioritises the war on illicit drugs which explains the formidable commitment of the administration to tackling the menace of illicit drugs, describing it as a critical component of Nigeria’s national security strategy.

Ribadu made the assertion during an inter-agency coordination meeting at his office in Abuja, where he noted that drug abuse—particularly among the youth—is intricately linked to insecurity across the country.

“Most violent crimes and terrorist activities are fueled by narcotics abuse. The war on drugs is not just about law enforcement—it is a long-term public health intervention with implications for national stability,” Ribadu stated.
He warned that it would no longer be business as usual for those dealing in illicit and counterfeit substances, as the government is determined to dismantle drug networks and safeguard public health.

“There are patriotic Nigerians working tirelessly to make our society better. The achievements recorded by this committee are proof of what we can accomplish through inter-agency collaboration,” he added.

The NSA commended the synergy among agencies involved in the joint operation, which has so far led to the interception and destruction of 207 containers of fake and dangerous drugs.
The ongoing crackdown is being coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).