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Vision of Drug-Free Nigeria is Achievable, Marwa Tells Participants at NOMA Capacity Workshop
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The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has re-emphasized calls for strategic partners with media practitioners to fight against drug abuse, warning that the country remains at the centre of a growing drug crisis that requires urgent and collective action.
Marwa, who was represented by Mrs. Rita Geh, a Deputy Director in the agency, made the remarks while delivering a keynote address at the Media Capacity Building Programme organized by the Nigerian Online Media Alliance (NOMA), in Lagos, to commemorate the 2026 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
The event, which brought together journalists, public health experts, anti-drug advocates, policymakers, and stakeholders to examine the role of the media in preventing substance abuse and promoting advocacy, was held at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba on Thursday 25th June, 2026, and themed: “Responsible Media, Drug-Free Nigeria: The Journalist’s Role in Prevention and Advocacy.”
The NDLEA boss described media professionals as “shapers of perception, architects of public opinion, and indispensable partners in national development,” emphasizing that the fight against drug abuse cannot be won through law enforcement alone.
According to him, Africa faces a particularly alarming drug challenge, with projections indicating that drug use on the continent could increase by as much as 40 per cent by 2030, compared to a relatively modest rise globally.
“Nigeria, by virtue of its population and strategic position, sits at the centre of this challenge. The 2018 national drug use survey showed that 14.4 per cent of Nigerians use drugs, compared to the global average of 5.6 per cent. This is not a statistic we can afford to ignore,” he said.
Marwa stressed that while enforcement remains a critical component of the anti-drug campaign, sustainable success depends on prevention, education, advocacy, and community involvement.
He noted that under his leadership, the NDLEA has adopted a balanced strategy that combines supply reduction with demand reduction efforts.
Highlighting the agency’s achievements, Marwa disclosed that the NDLEA has recorded more than 77,859 arrests, secured over 14,122 convictions, and seized in excess of 15 million kilograms of illicit substances across the country in recent years.
He further revealed that within the first ten months of 2025 alone, the agency made over 19,000 arrests, secured approximately 3,000 convictions, confiscated millions of kilograms of narcotics, and destroyed large cannabis plantations nationwide.
“These figures represent more than statistics. Behind every arrest, conviction, and seizure are lives saved, families protected, and communities made safer,” he said.
According to the NDLEA chairman, the agency’s operations have also disrupted criminal supply chains and weakened financial networks linked to organized crime and terrorism.
Despite these achievements, Marwa maintained that reducing the demand for drugs remains the ultimate solution to the problem.
“It is in the area of demand reduction that the role of the media becomes indispensable. The narratives journalists create, the stories they choose to tell, and the information they disseminate influence the choices people make, particularly young people,” he said.
The retired military officer urged journalists to prioritize responsible reporting by emphasizing accuracy over sensationalism and public education over entertainment.
He challenged media practitioners to use their platforms to educate the public on the dangers of substance abuse while highlighting stories of recovery, resilience, and rehabilitation.
According to him, reporting that focuses solely on criminality and punishment can reinforce stigma, discourage treatment-seeking behaviour, and undermine prevention efforts.
“Responsible media practice means going beyond headlines. It means helping people understand the realities of drug abuse, promoting evidence-based information, and showing that recovery is possible,” Marwa stated.
He also emphasized the media’s watchdog role, encouraging journalists to hold institutions accountable while fostering informed public discourse around drug policy, prevention, and public health interventions.
The NDLEA chairman described the programme’s broader focus on community involvement, media advocacy, and self-consciousness as central to achieving a drug-free society.
“This fight begins with the individual, gains strength from the community, and reaches its widest impact through the media. When these three forces work together, the results can be transformative,” he said.
Marwa called on journalists to actively support national anti-drug campaigns by countering misinformation, promoting healthy lifestyles, and amplifying prevention messages targeted at young people.
He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to transparency, professionalism, and collaboration with the media, noting that regular engagement remains essential for public awareness and advocacy.
The NDLEA chairman also highlighted the agency’s ongoing investments in prevention programmes, including school-based sensitization campaigns, community outreach initiatives, rehabilitation services, and the nationwide War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign.
According to him, millions of Nigerians, particularly young people, have already been reached through these interventions.
He further stressed the importance of community participation, urging parents, teachers, religious leaders, and community influencers to remain vigilant and proactive in protecting young people from substance abuse.
“Early education, open conversations, and supportive environments remain our strongest defences against drug abuse. A drug-free Nigeria cannot be achieved without active community involvement and personal responsibility,” he said.
Expressing optimism about the future, Marwa noted that a drug-free Nigeria remains an achievable goal if stakeholders sustain their commitment and continue to work together.
“The vision of a drug-free Nigeria is not a distant dream. It is achievable through commitment, consistency, and collective action. Together, we can build a nation where young people make informed choices and where communities remain safe, productive, and free from the scourge of drugs,” he concluded.
Metro
International Day of the Girl-Child: Pad Me A Girl Foundation Holds Menstrual Health Outreach in Ogun
The Pad Me A Girl Empowerment Foundation has taken its menstrual health campaign to Igbesa High School (Junior), in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State, providing free sanitary pads, menstrual hygiene pamphlets, exercise books and pens to over 100 schoolgirls to promote menstrual health, dignity and education.
The outreach, held on Wednesday, October 21, commemorated the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child, whose global theme is “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights!”
The programme brought together girls from Junior Secondary School (JSS) 1 to 3 who participate in the school’s reading clubs for mentorship, reading activities and menstrual health education.
It was convened by Oyelami Yetunde Anuoluwapo and Blessing Kappo, teachers and Teach For Nigeria Fellows at the school, following an appeal for sanitary products, learning materials and health education support. The Foundation’s founder, Theresa Moses, responded by providing the requested items and facilitating an interactive session on menstrual hygiene management.
Speaking at the event, Moses said she was inspired by the girls’ determination and aspirations, stressing the need for sustained investment in their health, education and future.
“Invest in girls and Nigeria will rise. Every girl deserves dignity, education and the right to dream beyond child marriage. That is why we are here; to ensure no girl misses school because of her period,” she said.
She emphasised that access to menstrual hygiene products and accurate information helps girls manage their periods confidently and participate fully in school activities.
In a letter of appreciation, Oyelami and Kappo described the outreach as impactful and inspiring, noting that it enhanced the girls’ understanding of menstrual health, hygiene and self-confidence. They also said the support would help promote the students’ hygiene, school attendance and dignity.
“You did not just give pads; you gave our girls confidence and hope,” the teachers wrote on behalf of the school community, expressing gratitude to the Foundation and hope for future collaboration.
Mrs Amarachi Eze, Assistant Divisional Commissioner of the Nigerian Girl Guides Association, Ado-Odo/Ota, Ogun State Branch, also commended the Foundation for supporting the girls’ hygiene needs and development.
“We sincerely appreciate the Management of Pad Me A Girl Foundation for joining hands with the Association in supporting our girls on hygiene management. May God Almighty continue to uplift your foundation. Thanks for joining hands in the development of girls in our schools. Bravo,” she said.
The Foundation’s Media Coordinator, Mr Oluwatosin Simon Faleye, called on corporate organisations, non-governmental organisations and well-meaning Nigerians to support initiatives that address period poverty and help girls remain in school.
“For over a year, we have been committed to ending period poverty and keeping girls in school. We call on corporate organisations and well-meaning Nigerians to support this cause for the betterment of Nigeria,” Faleye said.
The celebration also featured a student drama presentation highlighting the effects of child marriage, alongside reading and mentorship activities designed to encourage the girls to understand their rights, value their education and pursue their aspirations.
The Foundation also acknowledged the continued support of its sponsors and partners, including Access Bank, Pro Star Sports International, BL Consulting, Vita Baites Foods, Checkers, Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the 10th Nigerian National Assembly, the Senate Committee on Women Affairs (SCOWAS), as well as individuals and media organisations whose contributions have supported its broader mission of ending period poverty, promoting menstrual health education and empowering girls and women.
Abia State governor, Alex Otti, is set to flag off the reconstruction of Uratta Road and Old Express Road in Aba, two major routes which poor condition has disrupted transportation, commercial activities and access to residential communities for years.
The governor’s media aide, Ferdinand Ekeoma, in a statement on Wednesday, said that work on the roads has begun ahead of the scheduled official flag-off.
The two roads are considered important to Aba’s commercial and industrial activities, with Uratta Road connecting several adjoining streets to Port Harcourt Road and Old Express Road. At the same time, Old Express Road serves as a key route within the city’s industrial layout.
Ekeoma said the roads had suffered neglect for more than 24 years, leaving some sections impassable and forcing residents and businesses to contend with difficult transportation conditions.
According to the statement, Uratta Road provides access to more than 100 adjoining streets. Its poor condition has affected residents, traders and small-scale manufacturers who depend on the road to transport goods and access their businesses.
The statement said the road had become waterlogged and overgrown with weeds, discouraging commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators from using it.
Similarly, the deterioration of Old Express Road forced heavy-duty truck operators, fabric merchants, spare-parts dealers and small businesses to use longer routes, increasing transportation costs and affecting productivity.
The government said the road reconstruction is part of its broader effort to restore Aba’s infrastructure and strengthen the city’s commercial base.
Aba, one of southeastern Nigeria’s major commercial centres, hosts manufacturing clusters, markets, and small and medium-sized enterprises that depend heavily on functional roads to move raw materials and finished products.
The government said the reconstruction would improve market access, reduce transportation costs, facilitate the movement of goods, and support businesses operating along the affected corridors.
Ekeoma cited the reconstruction of Port Harcourt Road as an example of the administration’s infrastructure programme, noting that improved road access encouraged shops to reopen, attracted manufacturing activities and increased property rents along the corridor.
The government also said the new projects would complement other road interventions in Aba, including works on Ohanku and Obohia roads, as part of efforts to improve connectivity within the commercial city.
Beyond road construction, the administration said its projects include drainage systems, solar-powered streetlights, and pedestrian walkways, which it described as necessary to improve safety, accessibility, and flood resilience.
Ekeoma said Governor Otti views infrastructure development as an economic strategy rather than merely a construction programme, arguing that better roads would help businesses operate more efficiently and create employment opportunities.
He also quoted the governor as saying at an earlier church event that his administration is shifting attention from basic infrastructure improvements to healthcare, education, technology and industrialisation.
The governor, a former bank chief executive, was elected in 2023 on the Labour Party platform, defeating candidates from the major established parties in a state historically dominated by the Peoples’ Democratic Party.
Otti has remained in the Labour Party despite the defection of its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
His administration has made rehabilitating Aba roads and public infrastructure central to its governance agenda, presenting the city’s recovery as essential to reviving economic activity across Abia State.
MILO Nigeria, in partnership with former Nigerian national team captain and MILO Brand Ambassador Ahmed Musa, has concluded the inaugural MILO × Ahmed Musa Sports Clinic and Tournament in Kano, providing 2,500 young footballers with professional coaching, mentorship and competitive football experience.
Over two weeks, participants took part in 10 coaching sessions and competed in matches under the guidance of Ahmed Musa and experienced coaches. The programme combined practical football training with lessons in teamwork, discipline, resilience and confidence, equipping participants with skills and values that extend beyond the pitch.
The initiative culminated in a tournament at the Ahmed Musa Sports Complex in Kano, where Khamis Football Academy emerged as champions of the inaugural edition. Participants also received cash prizes, certificates and football equipment.
Speaking on the initiative, Gilbert Tweneboah-Koduah, Category Lead, MILO, said: “At MILO, we believe sport is a powerful platform for young people to discover their abilities, build confidence and develop values that extend beyond the field of play. Our partnership with Ahmed Musa brings together MILO’s longstanding commitment to sports development and the experience of an athlete whose journey from grassroots football to the highest level of the game can inspire the next generation. By combining his experience with structured coaching and competition, this programme has given young footballers in Kano an opportunity to develop their skills, learn from experienced professionals and better understand the commitment required to pursue their aspirations.”
For the participants, the clinic offered an opportunity to learn from an athlete whose football journey began in northern Nigeria and progressed to the highest levels of the sport, making his experience a source of inspiration for aspiring players.
Commenting on the partnership, Ahmed Musa said: “Nigeria has incredible football talent, but talent alone is not enough. Young players need good coaching, regular competition and people who will guide them. I am proud to partner with MILO and share some of what football has taught me. My message to these players is simple: keep training, listen to your coaches and work hard every day to improve.”
Musa also called for greater investment in grassroots football, emphasizing the importance of giving young players access to quality coaching, structured development and regular competitive opportunities.
The MILO × Ahmed Musa Sports Clinic and Tournament builds on MILO’s longstanding commitment to youth development through sports in Nigeria. Through its school-based and grassroots sporting initiatives, MILO continues to create opportunities for young people to participate in sports, develop their abilities and embrace values that can support them both on and off the pitch.
