NDLEA chairman Marwa warns of looming 40% surge in African drug use

 The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd), warns about a projected significant increase in drug use across Africa, forecasting a potential rise of up to 40%.

Marwa cautioned that this looming crisis demands urgent and coordinated action from stakeholders across the continent.

According to a statement released on Monday by NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi, Marwa raised this alarm while hosting a delegation from the African Union Commission at the NDLEA Headquarters in Abuja.

The AU team was in Nigeria as part of an assessment visit to evaluate the implementation of the African Union Plan of Action on Drug Control and Crime Prevention (2019–2025) and to consult on the development of a new framework for the period of 2026–2030.

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During his address, Marwa highlighted the critical disparity between global drug use projections and those specifically for Africa.

“While global projections estimate a 10–11% rise in drug use prevalence, Africa is expected to experience a surge of up to 40%,” he stated, emphasizing that “this disparity signals a looming crisis that demands coordinated and accelerated action.”

The NDLEA boss stressed the urgent need for proactive measures to confront the continent’s escalating drug challenge, expressing appreciation for the African Union’s leadership and proactive efforts in this crucial area.