Race To Replace NDLEA Boss Marwa Heats Up As Tenure Nears End

Barely two months to the end of his tenure, no fewer than five contenders have reportedly joined the race to succeed the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), who is said to be lobbying for another five-year term in office.

Marwa, 72, was appointed NDLEA Chairman on January 17, 2021, by former President Muhammadu Buhari, and his tenure is due to expire in January 2026.

According to The PUNCH, a top security source confirmed that while Marwa is eligible for reappointment, several stakeholders are divided over whether he should continue or step aside for fresh leadership.

“The tenure of Marwa will end in about two months, with stakeholders divided on whether he should be allowed a second term or not,” the source revealed.
“So far, five people are aspiring to succeed him, including some retired military and police officers, security chiefs, and lawyers.”

The identities of the contenders were not disclosed, but sources hinted that President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda, as well as concerns over Marwa’s age, have fueled the growing competition for the NDLEA’s top seat.

Marwa’s recent visit to the Presidential Villa on Tuesday was reportedly part of a lobbying effort to secure a renewal of his appointment. Some government insiders suggested that stakeholders opposed to his reappointment are recommending him for an ambassadorial role instead.

Calls For Reform

According to sources, the ongoing debate over Marwa’s reappointment is part of a broader justice sector reform being championed by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
An official familiar with the discussions noted that while several justice-related agencies have undergone restructuring, the NDLEA remains largely unchanged.

“Among the agencies in the justice sector, only the NDLEA has not undergone restructuring,” the official said. “The President aims to strengthen the rule of law and human rights through reforms across institutions such as the NDLEA, Nigerian Correctional Service, Code of Conduct Bureau, and Legal Aid Council.”

Intelligence assessments reportedly identified the NDLEA as needing “surgical reforms”, with issues such as promotion irregularities, low prosecution rates, and bureaucratic bottlenecks cited as major challenges.

“In spite of Marwa’s above-average performance, he has been seen as a lone ranger. The NDLEA bureaucracy is stifling the war against drugs,” one insider noted.

Performance And Criticism

Under Marwa’s leadership, the NDLEA reportedly arrested 31,675 drug offenders and secured 5,147 convictions, a figure considered low compared to the number of arrests.

Between 2021 and 2024, the agency seized over 6,000 tonnes of illicit drugs, uncovered methamphetamine labs, and destroyed more than 600 hectares of cannabis farms across Ondo, Edo, and Delta states.

The NDLEA also recorded landmark busts, including the 1.8-tonne cocaine warehouse discovered in Ikorodu, Lagos, in 2022 one of Nigeria’s biggest drug seizures in history.

Despite these achievements, critics say the agency’s focus has been limited to arresting small-scale vendors rather than dismantling major production and distribution networks.

A retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, Wilson Inalegwu, said the agency must move beyond street-level arrests.

“We must go after the barons, the dealers, and distributors. It’s better to tackle the problem from the root,” he said, calling for advocacy and early intervention campaigns to prevent youth involvement in drug trafficking.

As the clock ticks toward the end of Marwa’s tenure, the decision on his fate now rests with President Tinubu, whose commitment to institutional reform may shape the next phase of Nigeria’s anti-narcotics war.