The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has cautioned Nigerian youths, especially tertiary institution students, against drug abuse, warned that the temporary “high” from substance use often leads to lifelong consequences.
Marwa delivered the public lecture at the University of Abuja on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, as part of activities marking the institution’s 29th and 30th Combined Convocation Ceremony, with the theme: “High Today, Lost Tomorrow: The Real Cost of Drug Abuse on Campus.”
He described substance abuse as a growing threat that has moved beyond street-level misuse into lecture halls and campuses across the country, stressing that the evolving drug landscape now includes synthetic opioids and designer substances such as Colorado, Loud, and methamphetamine, often distributed through social media platforms.
According to him, drug abuse not only impairs cognitive ability but also destroys future prospects through criminal records, mental health challenges, and diminished productivity.
“A criminal record for drug offences is a life sentence on your career before it even begins. You cannot practice law, medicine, or engineering with a drug-related conviction,” he warned.
Marwa further linked substance abuse to cultism and campus violence, noting that NDLEA maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward drug-related offences, while also highlighting that many young Nigerians are increasingly being drawn into drug trafficking and consumption at an early age.
Citing data from the National Drug Use and Health Survey, he said Nigerian youths—particularly those between ages 25 and 39—remain the most affected group, while warning that experimentation is now being recorded among children under 15 in some cases.
He also revealed that out of 77,859 drug offenders arrested by the NDLEA in the last five years, over 60% were young people, while a significant number of those treated in rehabilitation centres were also youths.
Addressing graduating students directly, Marwa urged them to make wise decisions as they transition into a fast-changing global economy driven by artificial intelligence and fintech innovation.
“You are about to enter a world that is AI-powered and fintech-driven. There is no room for a clouded mind in a fast-paced world. Choose your circle. Peer pressure is the primary gateway,” he said.
He added that drug abuse does not only destroy the user but also places emotional, financial, and social burdens on families, institutions, and society at large.
“The ripple effects are devastating. A nation cannot thrive when its youth—the greatest asset—are compromised,” he said.
Marwa concluded by commending the management of the University of Abuja for its partnership with the NDLEA in strengthening campus surveillance and urged higher institutions nationwide to intensify drug education during orientation programmes and lectures.
Dignitaries present at the lecture included the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council, Senator Olanrewaju Tejuoso; Vice Chancellor, Professor Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi; council members; senior university officials; students; and NDLEA officers.
