President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the reappointment of Brigadier-General Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd.) as Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), extending his tenure for another five years. The decision, announced in a statement issued on Friday by Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, keeps Marwa at the helm of the nation’s top anti-narcotics agency until 2031.
The renewed mandate reflects what the Presidency describes as confidence in Marwa’s sweeping reforms, record-breaking drug seizures, and aggressive nationwide campaigns against drug abuse and trafficking. Since assuming office in January 2021, the former military governor has been widely credited for revitalising the NDLEA and restoring public trust in the agency’s capacity to combat the rising threats posed by illicit substances.
Marwa’s journey to becoming Nigeria’s most prominent anti-drug czar spans decades of service in the military, diplomacy, public administration, and national security. He began his military career at the Nigerian Military School before proceeding to the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), where he was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1973.
His early military postings included serving as Brigade Major of the 23 Armoured Brigade and Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to then-Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Theophilus Danjuma. He later served as the academic registrar of the NDA, demonstrating his versatility in both administrative and command responsibilities.
Marwa’s competence earned him postings abroad, first as Deputy Defence Adviser at the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, D.C., and subsequently as Defence Adviser to the Nigerian Permanent Mission to the United Nations.
As a public administrator, he became widely known for his tenure as military governor of Lagos State between 1996 and 1999, where his “Operation Sweep” initiative significantly improved security in the state. He also served as military governor of Borno State.
His academic qualifications include two prestigious postgraduate degrees:
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A Master of Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh (1983–85), and
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A Master of Public Administration from Harvard University (1985–86).
These experiences and credentials positioned him as one of Nigeria’s most well-rounded public administrators.
Marwa was first appointed as NDLEA Chairman by former President Muhammadu Buhari in January 2021, after serving as Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee for the Elimination of Drug Abuse (2018–2020). His appointment marked the beginning of an aggressive transformation of the NDLEA.
Under his leadership, the agency recorded unprecedented successes. According to government figures, the NDLEA has made more than 73,000 arrests of drug traffickers, mules, and barons over the last four years. It has seized over 15 million kilogrammes of illicit substances, including cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, cannabis, and various synthetic drugs.
These achievements, observers say, have significantly disrupted major drug trafficking networks operating within and outside Nigeria. The agency’s operations have also extended to border communities, airports, seaports, and hard-to-reach rural zones where drug cultivation and trafficking once thrived with minimal resistance.
Beyond high-profile arrests, Marwa has led a national campaign to tackle the worsening drug abuse crisis affecting millions of Nigerians — particularly young people. The NDLEA under his command launched nationwide sensitisation programmes, school-targeted outreach, community advocacy, and strategic partnerships with religious leaders, traditional rulers, and civil society groups.
The agency also expanded rehabilitation and counseling services, aligning enforcement with a more humane approach to addiction.
President Tinubu, in his message accompanying the reappointment, praised Marwa for spearheading what he described as an “onerous effort to rid our country of the menace of drug trafficking and drug abuse.”
“Your reappointment is a vote of confidence in your tireless contributions,” Tinubu stated. “I urge you not to relent in tracking the merchants of hard drugs out to destroy our people, especially the young ones.”
Security experts often link drug trafficking to terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other organised crimes. Under Marwa’s leadership, the NDLEA intensified intelligence-sharing with domestic and international partners, including the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), INTERPOL, and several African anti-narcotics units.
These collaborations have enhanced Nigeria’s capacity to intercept trafficking routes, dismantle clandestine laboratories, and crack down on transnational criminal networks operating across West and Central Africa.
Marwa’s renewed five-year tenure places him at the centre of Nigeria’s ongoing security and health reforms. With rising methamphetamine production, opioid abuse, and the proliferation of synthetic drugs among youth, the NDLEA faces new and evolving challenges.
His reappointment signals continuity in an era where Nigeria is striving to strengthen its borders, disrupt criminal supply chains, and counter the social consequences of addiction. It also reflects the government’s recognition that drug control remains a priority for national development, public safety, and global cooperation.
The reappointment has drawn commendations from several stakeholders in security, civil society, and youth advocacy networks. Many say Marwa’s leadership has brought credibility to the NDLEA and restored fear among drug cartels that once operated with impunity.
However, some analysts emphasise that more investments in rehabilitation centres, community-driven preventive measures, and modern surveillance technologies are necessary to consolidate the progress made so far.
As Marwa prepares for another tenure extending to 2031, expectations are high. With the support of the Tinubu administration, he is expected to deepen reforms, expand intelligence operations, strengthen inter-agency collaboration, and intensify public awareness campaigns.
For Nigeria, the stakes remain high: drug trafficking and abuse continue to pose existential threats to security, health, and economic productivity. The renewed mandate signals a commitment to sustaining momentum against these threats — and the hope that the NDLEA will continue its transformation into one of Africa’s most formidable anti-narcotics agencies.
With Buba Marwa at the helm for another five years, the fight against illicit drugs enters a critical new chapter.
