Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Buba Marwa has urged stakeholders developing the next National Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP 2026–2030) to craft a document that addresses new and emerging threats sustaining Nigeria’s illicit drug trade.
The NDLEA Chairman gave the charge on Monday in Niger State at the opening of a five-day workshop to draft the fifth edition of the National Drug Control Master Plan, funded by the ECOWAS Commission and supported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
He described the exercise as both strategic and historic, emphasizing the need for the new plan to be visionary yet practical, nationally owned yet globally aligned.
“The NDCMP 2026–2030 must build on past achievements while boldly tackling new challenges such as synthetic drugs, dark-web trafficking, poly-substance use and illicit financial flows”.
The NDLEA boss urged participants to use the retreat to deliberate and agree on strategic priorities that would shape the country’s anti-drug response for the next five years.
He reiterated the agency’s commitment to providing leadership, coordination, and technical support for the plan’s effective implementation and pledged stronger collaboration with local and regional partners.
Marwa commended ECOWAS, the European Union, UNODC, civil society, and other partners for their continued support, noting that their collective efforts are essential to creating a safer and healthier West Africa.
UNODC Country Representative, Cheikh Ousmane, represented by Dr. Akanidomo Ibanga, praised Nigeria’s progress in drug control but cautioned that global dynamics continue to influence the drug situation.
He described the Master Plan as a key instrument for ensuring adaptive, inclusive and coordinated national and regional responses.
ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, Prof. Fatou Sow Sarr, represented by Dr. Daniel Amankwaah, said Nigeria’s efforts align with regional and international best practices.
She noted that ECOWAS is providing technical and financial assistance to strengthen Nigeria’s new Master Plan in line with its drug prevention and control objectives.
Representatives of the Federal Ministries of Education, Health, Agriculture, Budget and Planning, as well as NACA, NAFDAC, EFCC, and NFIU, also participated in the workshop.
Reporting By Nosa Aituamen