The monarch gave the assurance on Friday during a courtesy visit to the headquarters of the NDLEA in Abuja, where he was received by Buba Marwa, its chairman.

The Alaafin was accompanied by two other traditional rulers — the Oloro of Oro, Oba Joel Olaniyan Olatoye, and the Olusin of Ijara Isin, Oba Ademola Julius Ajibola.

Oba Owoade praised Marwa’s public service record and described his leadership qualities as exemplary, noting that his years as a military administrator in Borno and Lagos laid a strong foundation for his achievements.

“We are proud of you. Your being in this position is not by chance — it reflects your devotion, commitment, and character,” he said.

“You have always been a performer, and the legacy of Keke Marwa remains unforgettable. We are ready to collaborate with you.”

The monarch said traditional rulers occupy a strategic position at the grassroots and are well placed to provide intelligence, advocacy and community mobilisation in the anti-drug campaign.

“We are at the grassroots; we know what is going on. My colleagues and I are more than ready to work with you and give all the necessary support to ensure your success. Anytime you need us, we will be there,” he added.

Marwa congratulated the Alaafin on his ascension to the throne and stressed that traditional institutions remain critical in addressing Nigeria’s drug challenge.

He said recent data from the 2018 national drug use survey shows that nearly 15 million Nigerians aged 15 to 64 use drugs — a situation he described as “unacceptable”.

“We have been mandated by President Bola Tinubu to fight the drug scourge, arrest traffickers, prosecute them, and seize their assets,” Marwa said.

“But we need the traditional institutions. Nigerians respect their traditional rulers, and when they speak, it carries weight.”

The NDLEA chairman urged traditional rulers to work closely with religious leaders in their domains to strengthen advocacy against drug use. He also appealed for intelligence from communities to help identify and apprehend local drug dealers.

“If we can control drug use, criminality will drop. Kidnappers, insurgents, terrorists and bandits rely on drugs to charge themselves up,” he said.

Marwa expressed appreciation to the Alaafin for the visit and wished him a long and impactful reign marked by peace and development in Oyo Kingdom.

The post Alaafin pledges support for NDLEA’s fight against drug abuse first appeared on The Times of Abuja.

Speaking on Saturday at the Ijebu Ode Council of Olorituns in Ogun state, Marwa warned that the vices are interlinked, creating a cycle of violence and destruction that must be broken for society to thrive.

He noted that cultism, once restricted to tertiary institutions, has spread to secondary schools and neighbourhoods, luring youths into violence and crime under false promises of belonging and power.

Quoting United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) data, Marwa said drug use in Africa could rise by 40 percent, with Nigeria already among the countries with the highest prevalence rates.

“Parents, religious leaders, traditional rulers, educators, and community leaders must unite to address these vices. Strengthening families, promoting discipline in schools, and investing in youth development will help reduce the lure of drugs and cultism,” he said.

Marwa also urged the creation of opportunities in education, entrepreneurship, skills acquisition, and sports, stressing that “idle hands are the devil’s workshop.”

 Adebisi Alausa, council chairman and senator Lekan Mustapha praised Marwa’s track record and commitment to safeguarding Nigerian youths.

The post Marwa urges united action against drug abuse, cultism, banditry among Nigerian youths first appeared on The Times of Abuja.