The Nationwide Drug Regulation Enforcement Company (NDLEA) has introduced the arrest of 62,595 drug suspects and the conviction of 11,628 offenders between January 2021 and March 2025 throughout all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, made the assertion through the opening ceremony of a convention for Nigeria’s Governors’ Spouses in Abuja on Tuesday.
The occasion was organized by the NDLEA in collaboration with the Nigeria Governors’ Spouses’ Discussion board and was reported by the Information Company of Nigeria (NAN).
The theme of the occasion was “Superior Coaching on Drug Prevention, Therapy, and Care (DPTC) Stage 3 and Efficient Administration of the State Drug Management Committee.”
Marwa emphasised that over the previous 4 years, the NDLEA had pursued this mission with renewed and unwavering zeal, making certain that Nigeria’s hard-won world and regional drug management successes weren’t solely preserved however expanded.
“Allow me to tell this distinguished gathering that over these years, the NDLEA has deployed substantial sources towards a complete assault on the drug downside, yielding vital outcomes,” he said.
He additional outlined the drug provide discount mandate, which incorporates drug seizures, arrests, prosecutions, and convictions.
“We recorded the arrest of 62,595 drug suspects, together with 68 drug barons. We have now seized 10,317,137.55 kilograms of various medicine and secured the conviction of 11,628 offenders. Moreover, 1,330.56553 hectares of hashish farms have been recognized and destroyed,” Marwa stated.
Marwa stated that equal emphasis had been positioned on drug demand discount to make sure a balanced strategy in accordance with worldwide finest practices.
“Between January 2021 and March 2025, a complete of 24,375 drug customers acquired counselling and remedy at NDLEA services, primarily by transient interventions.
“Concurrently, 10,501 drug sensitization programmes have been carried out nationwide beneath the auspices of the Warfare In opposition to Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy marketing campaign, reaching numerous goal {groups} inside communities.
“In parallel, a exceptional 3,843,789 individuals have been mobilized to partake in these enlightenment initiatives undertaken throughout the nation,” he stated.
The NDLEA boss said that the company had made intentional investments within the implementation of Drug Use Prevention methods, recognizing that prevention is invariably higher than remedy.
He emphasised that these focused interventions have been essential in decreasing danger elements and strengthening protecting elements towards substance abuse, particularly amongst susceptible and marginalized populations, together with the youth.
He famous that, “no matter how darkish the hour could appear, we should not give up to despair. As patriots and vanguards of the nation’s well-being, it’s our responsibility to strengthen our resolve and transfer with deliberate velocity towards sensible and lasting options that, with God’s assist, will break the vicious cycle of drug abuse.”
He additionally remarked that this capacity-building occasion, although small, represents progress in the precise course. Provided that the burden of the drug menace is most acutely felt on the neighborhood stage, he harassed the significance of addressing the totally different dimensions of the issue from a community-centered perspective.
The NDLEA boss urged that this gathering attempt for frequent floor, specializing in the event of indigenous and pragmatic options that transcend statistics and alarming headlines to deal with the true human toll of drug abuse.
