Marwa Urges Traditional Rulers, Parents to Take Ownership of War Against Drug Abuse

Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria's National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has called for a united front against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking, urging traditional institutions, parents, and community leaders to actively participate.

“

drug abuse does not discriminate, affecting rich and poor, urban and rural communities alike

Marwa made this appeal on Saturday while attending the 10th anniversary of Akinale Day and the 1st Coronation Anniversary of Oba Oluseyi Ayodeji Adewole Adediran, Otileta I, Towulade of Owu Akinale, in Ogun State. He described his presence as a "pilgrimage of friendship, respect, and deep-seated admiration," noting his long-standing relationship with the monarch.

Addressing the pervasive issue of drug abuse, Marwa emphasized that it affects all segments of society, regardless of wealth or location. He implored parents to reinforce core parenting values by closely monitoring their children for behavioral changes and urged youths to reject drugs, characterizing substance abuse as a detrimental path that exacerbates problems.

“

substance abuse as a false escape that multiplies rather than solves problems.

Furthermore, Marwa charged the Royal Council and community leaders in Owu Akinale to establish local advocacy networks. These networks, he suggested, would help make the town inhospitable to drug peddlers and provide support for individuals struggling with addiction. He stressed that the NDLEA cannot succeed in its mission without the crucial partnership of traditional institutions and monarchs who possess a deep understanding of youth dynamics.

“

The Agency cannot win the war against drugs without the partnership of traditional institutions and monarchs who understand youth dynamics.

In light of recent discoveries of industrial-scale methamphetamine laboratories operated by Nigerian-Mexican cartels in Ogun and Oyo states, Marwa specifically advised traditional rulers and community leaders across the southwest and the nation to be vigilant about the activities of unfamiliar individuals in their forests. He also recommended thorough vetting of individuals seeking to purchase farmland in rural communities.

“

those seeking to buy farmlands in rural communities must be properly vetted.