Drug control masterplan will strengthen Nigeria’s drug control efforts, says Marwa

Retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said that the National Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP 2026-2030) would strengthen Nigeria’s ongoing drug control efforts.

Marwa stated this at the Agency’s national headquarters on Thursday in Abuja while receiving the final summative evaluation report on the performance of the NDCMP 2021-2025.

A statement by the NDLEA spokesman, Mr Femi Babafemi said with the serious and holistic efforts being put into the preparations for the next master plan, its implementation, when finally produced, would have significant positive impact on the nation’s public health and national security.

He commended the team of consultants led by Prof Ibrahim Wakawa, Head of Mental Health Department, University of Maiduguri, who worked on the evaluation of the implementation of the NDCMP 2021-2025 for doing an excellent work.

According to Marwa, I must commend your commitment, diligence and the excellent job you have done on the evaluation of the NDCMP 2021-2025.

“Your acknowledgement of the successes recorded by the agency in the course of implementing the drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction pillars of the master plan is equally well appreciated.

“I want it on record that by the time the NDCMP 2026-2030 is fully ready and implemented, we’ll achieve much more under the renewed hope administration of President Bola Tinubu to the benefits of Nigerians and the country as a whole.”

Speaking earlier, Prof. Wakawa commended Marwa’s leadership that has led the agency to surpass most of the expectations listed in the 2021-2025 National Drug Control Master Plan.

He expressed confidence that the agency would bridge any identified gap especially in the area of drug demand reduction in the course of implementing the 2026-2030 master plan.

Supreme news reports that Prof. Wakawa was joined by two other members of his team: Mrs. Ngozi Oguejiofor and Mrs. Ibiba Odili.

Both retired as Assistant Commander General of Narcotics (ACGN) and headed the NDCMP secretariat at different times in the agency.

Supreme news reports that the masterplan specifically addresses emerging threats, including Synthetic drugs, Dark-web trafficking, Poly-substance use and Illicit financial flows sustaining the drug trade, among others.