MARWA WARNS DRUG ABUSE MENTAL ILLNESS REINFORCE EACH OTHER

MARWA WARNS DRUG ABUSE MENTAL ILLNESS REINFORCE EACH OTHER 

By Jennifer Nwosu 

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has called for increased investment in mental health services, warning that substance abuse and mental illness often reinforce each other and cannot be effectively addressed through arrests alone.

In a statement released by the Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA said Marwa made the call on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, while chairing the fifth edition of The Conversation Conference (TCC 5.0) at Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja. Organised by the Intersect Consortium, led by UK-based consultant psychiatrist Dr. Vincent Udenze, the conference focused on strategic investment, partnerships and community-led action. Marwa also chaired the first edition in 2022 and the third edition.

Marwa said untreated depression, trauma and other mental health challenges often contribute to drug abuse, making integrated treatment and prevention essential. He described the conference, held days after World Mental Health Day, as an opportunity to move beyond awareness and strengthen practical responses to the country's mental health challenges.

Highlighting the NDLEA's community-based approach, he cited an initiative in three pilot communities in Ondo State, where residents previously dependent on illicit cultivation have been supported to establish lawful and sustainable livelihoods. The agency plans to expand the model nationwide, with Marwa inviting development partners and other stakeholders to support the effort.

He also highlighted the agency's War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, which reaches young people through schools, campuses and communities, alongside its 24-hour toll-free helpline for people seeking assistance. According to Marwa, more than 53,843 people have passed through the NDLEA's 31 rehabilitation facilities nationwide over the past five years, underscoring the importance of accessible treatment and reintegration.

The NDLEA chief called for increased mental health funding, more psychiatrists, psychologists, counsellors and community health workers and the integration of mental health services into primary healthcare. He stressed the need for equitable financing so that treatment is accessible regardless of income or location.

Marwa also urged policymakers to prioritize women, children and vulnerable groups, including survivors of violence, displaced mothers, girls without adequate support, persons living with disabilities and families affected by conflict. He said recovery is more sustainable when support extends beyond the individual to include families and households.

He called for stronger collaboration among the health, education, security, justice and social welfare sectors, noting that no single institution could address the challenge alone.

Marwa thanked Vice President Kashim Shettima, represented at the conference by Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia as Special Guest of Honour, for supporting the mental health agenda. He urged participants to commit to funding effective programmes, expanding successful community-based interventions, prioritising vulnerable populations and holding institutions accountable for measurable results.