Retired Brigadier-General Buba Marwa, Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has urged parents and traditional rulers throughout Nigeria to collaborate with his agency in the battle against substance abuse. Marwa delivered this message on Saturday during the 10th Akinale Day anniversary and the first coronation celebration of Oba Oluseyi Ayodeji Adediran, the Towulade of Owu Akinale in Ogun State.
Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, noted that Marwa attended the event to honor a long-standing friendship with the monarch. Addressing the gathering, the NDLEA boss emphasized that drug abuse impacts all social classes and geographic locations equally. He encouraged parents to maintain vigilance regarding their children’s behavior and to uphold fundamental family values.
Marwa also advised young people to avoid illicit substances, noting that such drugs only create further complications rather than solutions. He challenged the local community leaders and the Royal Council in Owu Akinale to form advocacy groups aimed at driving out drug dealers while offering assistance to those suffering from addiction. He underscored that success in this struggle requires the active partnership of traditional institutions.
Highlighting recent discoveries of large-scale methamphetamine laboratories operated by Nigerian-Mexican cartels in Ogun and Oyo, Marwa warned community leaders to remain alert. He advised rural stakeholders to thoroughly vet any individuals attempting to acquire farmland, as they must keep a close watch on suspicious activities within their forested areas.
