The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has commended the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), for setting clear, firm and forward-looking operational targets for 2026, describing the agenda as a decisive roadmap that strengthens Nigeria’s resolve to dismantle drug cartels and protect communities from the destructive grip of illicit drugs.
Reacting in Abuja on Sunday, HURIWA said the strategic direction unveiled by Marwa at the NDLEA annual review and planning meeting reflects leadership consistency, institutional maturity and a deep understanding of the evolving dynamics of drug trafficking and substance abuse in Nigeria. The rights group noted that the renewed emphasis on disrupting the financial lifelines of drug cartels while expanding nationwide sensitization aligns with global best practices in drug control, which prioritize both supply reduction and demand reduction as mutually reinforcing pillars.
HURIWA stated that the last five years of Marwa’s leadership have fundamentally altered the operational culture and public perception of the NDLEA, transforming the Agency into a more professional, intelligence-driven and internationally respected institution. According to the group, the surge in high-profile seizures, arrests, convictions and sustained advocacy campaigns recorded in recent years demonstrates that the Agency has moved beyond episodic enforcement to a system of structured, strategic and measurable impact.
The association argued that the successes of the past five years are not accidental but the product of institutional reforms, capacity building, improved inter-agency cooperation and a firm insistence on discipline and professionalism. These gains, HURIWA stressed, provide a solid foundation that makes it logical and inevitable that the achievements of the previous tenure will be surpassed under the new five-year mandate. With clearer targets, better coordination among commands, strengthened State Drug Control Committees and deeper community engagement, the NDLEA is now better positioned to deliver outcomes that are broader in scope and more sustainable in impact.
HURIWA further observed that Marwa’s insistence on zero tolerance for compromise, thorough operational planning and the protection of officers through intelligence-led deployments reflects a rights-conscious approach to law enforcement that balances national security with the preservation of human life. The group said this approach not only reduces operational risks but also enhances public trust, which is essential for intelligence gathering and community cooperation in the fight against drugs.
The rights organization emphasized that the renewed focus on advocacy, particularly among youths, schools and grassroots communities, is timely and critical, given the documented link between substance abuse, violent crime, mental health crises and the erosion of family structures. HURIWA noted that countries that have recorded sustained progress against drug abuse are those that combine enforcement with aggressive prevention and public education, a model the NDLEA has increasingly adopted under Marwa’s leadership.
HURIWA called on all law-abiding Nigerians to show active solidarity with the NDLEA by supporting its operations, rejecting drug culture in all its forms and providing timely and credible information to security agencies. The association stressed that the fight against drug trafficking and abuse cannot be left to law enforcement alone, as the social costs of drugs ultimately burden families, communities and the national economy.
The group reaffirmed that a drug-free society is inseparable from the protection of human rights, public health and national development, adding that the strong start signaled by the NDLEA in 2026 sends a clear message to drug cartels that there will be no retreat, no complacency and no safe haven for illicit drug trade in Nigeria. HURIWA urged sustained political support, adequate funding and continuous public cooperation to ensure that the NDLEA’s renewed mandate delivers even greater dividends for national security and social stability.
*Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko*
National Coordinator,
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA)
Sunday, January 25, 2026
