…NDLEA, Davido Support Group unite to tackle narcotics abuse through Afrobeat
The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa ( rtd), has warned Nigerian youths against drug abuse, sex trafficking and other criminal activities.
He stated that the country’s future depended on a generation that chooses talent, creativity and responsibility over crime and addiction.
Marwa made the call in Asaba, the capital of Delta State, during a carnival themed “Celebrating the Impact of Afrobeat King Davido on African Music, Youth Culture and National Unity,” where stakeholders identified music and culture as powerful tools for confronting substance abuse and youth exploitation.
Represented by the Delta State Commander of the NDLEA, Halilu Hamidu, Marwa described drug abuse as a growing threat to families, schools and communities, stressing that law enforcement alone could not solve the problem.
The former Military Administrator (MILAD) of Lagos State said education, rehabilitation, compassion and sustained cultural engagement must complement enforcement efforts to curb substance abuse and protect vulnerable young people.
He stated that Afrobeat, with its enormous influence on young audiences across Africa and beyond, could serve as a powerful platform for promoting responsible behaviour, discouraging drug abuse and trafficking, and inspiring positive social change.
Marwa praised the organisers for integrating conversations on drug abuse, sex trafficking, culture and faith into the event, describing the initiative as a practical intervention capable of moving young people away from criminal exploitation.
He urged youths to reject drugs and crime, insisting that their talents and aspirations should be channelled into productive ventures rather than destructive lifestyles.
The NDLEA chairman also encouraged people struggling with substance abuse to seek professional help, assuring them that treatment, counselling and rehabilitation services remain available without discrimination or stigma.
He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to expanding partnerships with communities, faith-based organisations and stakeholders in the creative industry through its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign.
The Chairman of the occasion, Archbishop Gimbright Adaigho, said the carnival was more than an entertainment event.
He described it as a platform for promoting responsible leadership, national unity, creativity and Africa’s cultural heritage.
Adaigho urged young people to embrace values that foster peace, hope and responsible living, noting that music and cultural festivals should be deliberately deployed to combat drug abuse, addiction, trafficking and exploitation while advocating youth empowerment.
In his welcome address, Convener of the carnival and leader of the Davido International Support Group (DIS-G), Ambassador (Revd.) Chukwudi Eke, said the initiative was inspired by the devastating impact of drug abuse and addiction.
