MARWA SEEKS STRONGER ROLE FOR MONARCHS, FAMILIES IN ACTION AGAINST DRUG ABUSE

MARWA SEEKS STRONGER ROLE FOR MONARCHS, FAMILIES IN ACTION AGAINST DRUG ABUSE 

By Jennifer Nwosu 

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has called on traditional rulers, parents and community leaders across Nigeria to take greater ownership of the fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking, stressing that lasting success depends on active community participation.

In a statement released by the Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the Agency said Marwa made the appeal while serving as Chairman of the 10th Akinale Day celebration and the First Coronation Anniversary of Oba Oluseyi Ayodeji Adewole Adediran, Otileta I, Towulade of Owu Akinale, held on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at Baptist Primary School, Owu Akinale, Ogun State. The NDLEA chairman emphasized that traditional institutions remain critical partners in protecting communities from the growing threat of drug abuse and organized drug trafficking.

Marwa described his presence at the event as a celebration of friendship, respect and admiration, recalling a relationship with Oba Adediran that spans nearly two decades, dating back to the monarch's days as leader of the Lisabi Youths. He praised the royal father for demonstrating consistent leadership and noted that the qualities he displayed as a youth leader continue to define his reign as Towulade of Owu Akinale.

Addressing the gathering, Marwa warned that substance abuse affects people across every social class and community, making it a national concern that requires collective responsibility. He urged parents to become more involved in the lives of their children by monitoring their activities and recognizing early signs of drug abuse before they escalate.

He also appealed to young Nigerians to reject illicit drugs, stressing that substance abuse offers no real solution to life's challenges and often creates deeper personal and social problems.

The NDLEA boss further challenged the Royal Council and community leaders in Owu Akinale to establish community-based anti-drug advocacy structures capable of discouraging drug trafficking while supporting individuals battling substance dependence. He emphasized that traditional rulers, because of their influence and understanding of local communities, are indispensable partners in the Agency's drug control efforts.

Against the backdrop of the recent discovery of industrial-scale methamphetamine laboratories operated by Nigerian-Mexican drug cartels in the forests of Ogun and Oyo states, Marwa urged royal fathers and community leaders across the Southwest and other parts of the country to closely monitor activities within their forests and rural communities. He advised that individuals seeking to acquire farmland or establish operations in remote areas should be properly profiled and vetted to prevent criminal organizations from exploiting rural locations for illicit activities.

The event attracted political leaders, eminent traditional rulers and other distinguished guests, underscoring the growing recognition of community partnerships as an essential pillar in Nigeria's campaign against drug abuse and organized drug trafficking.