Dutse, July 21, 2026
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), retired Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, has described Gov. Umar Namadi of Jigawa, as the most supportive governor to the agency in Nigeria.
Marwa made the commendation in Dutse, at the inauguration of the Jigawa State Task Force on Campaign Against Drug Abuse and Mass Mobilisation for Social Reorientation.
He said the governor had demonstrated exceptional commitment to the fight against drug abuse, by providing land for the construction of a permanent NDLEA barracks, office accommodation for the state command headquarters, official residence for the state commander, and support for rehabilitation programmes.
“I can confidently say that no governor in Nigeria today supports the NDLEA more than Gov. Umar Namadi.
“His administration has shown uncommon commitment to strengthening the agency’s operations and tackling drug abuse at its roots,” Marwa said.
The NDLEA boss also applauded the governor’s broader development initiatives in youth empowerment, agriculture, education, healthcare, infrastructure and peacebuilding, describing proactive governance as a critical strategy for preventing substance abuse.
He described the inauguration of the state task force as “the Jigawa Model of Excellence” and urged other state governments to emulate the initiative by institutionalising similar structures to combat drug abuse and promote social reorientation.
Marwa commended the appointment of retired Commander of Narcotics, Sani Ibrahim Birnin Kudu, as coordinator of the task force, expressing confidence in his capacity to provide effective leadership and ensure close collaboration with the NDLEA.
Highlighting the agency’s achievements, Marwa disclosed that between January 2021 and December 2025, the NDLEA arrested 77,859 suspects, including 240 major drug barons, seized 14.8 million kilogrammes of illicit substances.
The Agency he said, had secured 14,122 convictions and provided counselling and rehabilitation services to more than 50,000 individuals nationwide.
Moreso, Marwa said the agency has dismantled a methamphetamine laboratory valued at about 362 million dollars, with drugs estimated to have a street value of approximately ₦480 billion.
According to him, the 2018 National Drug Use Survey, showed that Jigawa has a drug use prevalence rate of seven per cent, one of the lowest in the country, compared to the North-West average of 12 per cent.
Marwa emphasied that the newly inaugurated task force, would help preserve the state’s relatively low prevalence rate through intelligence-driven interventions, community engagement and stronger collaboration with traditional and religious leaders.
He also urged parents and communities to report drug abuse cases early for timely intervention and encouraged tertiary institutions to adopt NDLEA-certified drug integrity screening for students.
The NDLEA chairman further advocated the inclusion of drug-free certification in pre-marital screening, alongside HIV and genotype tests, as part of efforts to reduce substance abuse among young people.
He expressed confidence that with the political will demonstrated by the Jigawa State Government and the commitment of the task force, the state would become a model for a drug-free society in Nigeria.
