The National Council of Women’s Societies (NCWS) has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the reappointment of Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) as Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
ThelensNG reported on November 14 that President Tinubu approved Marwa’s reappointment for another five-year term. Marwa was first appointed by the late former President Muhammadu Buhari in January 2021, after serving as Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee for the Elimination of Drug Abuse from 2018 to December 2020.
The National President of the NCWS, Princess Edna Azura, who gave the commendation when she led other leaders of the Council on a courtesy visit to Marwa at the Agency’s National Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, said the renewal of his tenure would further strengthen and consolidate ongoing efforts against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.
Azura called for greater collaboration between the women’s group and the NDLEA, especially in joint sensitisation programmes in schools, markets, and communities, as well as in the training of women leaders in drug use prevention, treatment and care.
“We want to appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for this wonderful opportunity that he has given you extra five years. We are very, very grateful. This renewal is a clear national endorsement of your monumental contributions to national security, public health, women and youth protection. We are confident that your continued leadership will further fortify the nation’s fight against drug trafficking and promote sustainable peace and stability,” she stated.
She described Marwa’s leadership of the NDLEA as transformative and inspiring. “Over the years, you have demonstrated what strong ethical and visionary public service truly means. Under your leadership, the Agency has recorded unprecedented achievements from dismantling sophisticated drug trafficking networks to intercepting record level quantities of illicit substances, improving intelligence driven operations, expanding community based preventive education and strengthening rehabilitation pathways for victims of substance abuse.
“We are very grateful for that. These achievements are not just institutional milestones, they represent hope for millions of families, especially women and children, who often suffer the silent painful consequences of drug related crime, domestic challenges and societal instability,” the NCWS leader said.
Azura sought enhanced partnership with NDLEA in the fight against the drug scourge, saying: “At NCWS, we have also been actively mobilising women, mothers, teachers, and community groups to participate in the fight against substance abuse. Our ongoing school outreach programmes, advocacy forums and community sensitisation campaigns across the states have proven that when women are fully engaged, prevention becomes more effective.”
She highlighted the willingness of the Council to explore strategic areas of cooperation with the NDLEA, including the training of national and state officers as community anti-drug ambassadors; joint advocacy campaigns targeting mothers and caregivers; and support for rehabilitation and reintegration initiatives for women and youths affected by substance abuse.
In response, Marwa expressed appreciation to the NCWS leaders for the visit and for their commendation of him and President Tinubu.
He noted that as the umbrella body for all women’s societies across the country, the involvement of the NCWS is crucial to strengthening the national response to drug abuse.
Marwa stressed that the drug menace remains Nigeria’s number one challenge because it affects everyone and every community directly or indirectly.
The NDLEA boss emphasised that with a population of about 15 million drug users, there is the need for a whole-of-society approach.
“So, this is a big challenge and government cannot handle it alone, we have to have the whole of society to work with us. So NCWS, we don’t have any bigger partners than you because you are the mothers handling families all over the country, and it is very, very critical that you stand up. You have to stand up and be part of this struggle to redeem the souls of our young boys and girls, including the women who are afflicted,” he remarked.
He assured the women leaders that the Agency would not only partner with them but also organise Drug Use Prevention, Treatment and Care (DPTC) training to equip them for the tasks ahead in 2026.
“We will hold a DPTC training for you, we usually to do that for governors’ spouses and I think we will tailor it to exactly what you will need, so that you can also take it down to the states, and down to the grassroots,” Marwa pledged.
He also urged the Council to support the ongoing push for drug integrity testing for intending couples as part of efforts to discourage substance abuse and promote early detection and treatment, especially among young people.
