Buba Marwa, the chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has called on stakeholders drafting Nigeria’s next national drug control master plan (NDCMP 2026–2030) to ensure that the document addresses new and emerging threats feeling the country’s illicit drug trade.
Marwa spoke on Monday in Niger state while declaring open a five-day workshop for the development of the fifth national drug control master plan.
The session is funded by the ECOWAS Commission and supported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Marwa described the ongoing exercise as both “strategic and historic,” saying the new master plan must be visionary yet practical and align with both national and regional realities.
“The drug problem continues to evolve, and so must our response,” he said.
“The NDCMP 2026–2030 must build on past achievements while boldly addressing new and emerging threats — from synthetic drugs to dark-web trafficking, from poly-substance use to illicit financial flows that sustain the drug trade.”
The NDLEA boss said the workshop provides an opportunity for stakeholders to deliberate, analyse, and agree on strategic priorities that will shape Nigeria’s anti-drug response over the next five years.
He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to providing leadership, coordination, and technical support to ensure effective implementation of the master plan once adopted.
“This is not just about producing another document,” he added. “It is about charting a collective vision to safeguard the health, security, and wellbeing of Nigerians.”
Marwa commended ECOWAS, the European Union, UNODC, and other partners, including civil society organisations (CSOs)n and the private sector for supporting Nigeria’s drug control efforts.
Akanidomo Ibanga, representing Cheikh Ousmane, UNODC country representative, said the master plan would serve as a key instrument to harmonise national realities with international standards.
“Global and regional dynamics, from new psychoactive substances to organized crime networks, continue to evolve. Our response must therefore be adaptive, coordinated, and inclusive,” Ibanga said.
Fatou Sow Sarr, ECOWAS commissioner for human development and social affairs, represented by Daniel Amankwaah, noted that Nigeria’s current drug control framework is set to expire this year.
She said the new plan will focus on addressing emerging threats and strengthening both demand and supply reduction mechanisms.
“This initiative aligns with the objectives of the ECOWAS drug prevention and control programme and broader regional efforts to promote evidence-based drug policies,” she stated.
The opening session was attended by representatives from the federal ministries of education, health, agriculture, budget and planning, as well as agencies including NACA, NAFDAC, EFCC, and NFIU.
