International partners including the European Union (EU), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have reaffirmed their support for Nigeria’s renewed war against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking under the proposed National Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP) 2026–2030.
The assurances were given on Monday during the opening of a two-day NDCMP Consultative Forum organised by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency in Abuja.
Representing the EU delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Deputy Head of Delegation, Mr. Zissimos Vergos, described drug trafficking as a transnational threat requiring collective global action.
He said Nigeria’s stability and Europe’s security are interconnected, stressing that the new master plan represents Nigeria’s contribution to a coordinated international response against narcotics trafficking and abuse.
“Our presence here today is that of partners who have walked this uphill and rough road ourselves,” Vergos stated. “What affects the youth of Maiduguri or the streets of Ibadan does not stay within Nigerian borders.”
He assured Nigeria of the EU’s commitment to stronger collaboration, noting that the bloc had also updated its own drug strategy with international cooperation as a major pillar.
Vergos commended the leadership and personnel of the NDLEA for their dedication and sacrifices, expressing confidence that the new roadmap would help save lives and strengthen communities across Nigeria and beyond.
Also speaking at the event, UNODC Country Representative, Mr. Chiekh Ousmane Touré, warned that the global drug landscape is evolving rapidly due to the rise of synthetic drugs, sophisticated trafficking networks, and digital platforms used for illicit operations.
According to him, Nigeria remains strategically positioned at the centre of these emerging threats, making it imperative for the country to adopt a forward-looking and adaptable drug control strategy.
Touré reaffirmed the UN agency’s commitment to supporting Nigeria through technical assistance, law enforcement capacity building, drug demand reduction initiatives, and international cooperation.
“As we look ahead, we see this master plan as an opportunity to deepen impact, strengthen data systems, and ensure that the response is people-centred, inclusive, and sustainable,” he said.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, warned that despite the gains recorded over the past five years, Nigeria must not become complacent in the face of evolving drug threats.
Marwa cited projections by the UNODC indicating that drug use in Africa could rise by 40 per cent by 2030, while recent reports by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime identified West Africa as a major cocaine trafficking corridor between Latin America and Europe.
He said Nigeria’s drug challenge is becoming more complex due to the growing abuse of synthetic substances and prescription drugs, the emergence of new psychoactive substances, and the increasing digitalisation of the illicit drug trade through encrypted platforms and dark-web operations.
“As Africa’s most populous nation and largest economy, Nigeria cannot afford to be a passive observer,” Marwa declared.
He disclosed that the proposed 2026–2030 master plan introduces two new pillars — Alternative Development and Sustainable Livelihoods, aimed at addressing the socio-economic drivers of the drug trade, and the disruption of illicit drug economies through financial intelligence tracking.
The NDLEA boss urged participants at the forum to develop bold and innovative strategies capable of strengthening Nigeria’s anti-drug framework over the next five years.
ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, Dr. Daniel Amankwaah, described Nigeria’s drug control master plan as crucial to the regional body, noting that several ECOWAS member states draw policy direction from Nigeria’s framework.
He assured the NDLEA of ECOWAS’ continued support during both the planning and implementation stages of the programme.
Similarly, Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Said Ahmad, praised the NDLEA for its sustained professionalism and proactive campaigns against drug abuse and trafficking.
She called for a holistic and multi-sectoral approach involving education, healthcare, law enforcement, community engagement, and social support systems in addressing the menace.
Other dignitaries at the event included representatives of the Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics and the National Orientation Agency.
