Abuja, Nigeria – Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has called on the wives of state governors to take a leading role in grassroots efforts to combat substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking across the country.
The call was made during a capacity-building workshop organized by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for members of the Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum (NGSF), aimed at promoting the objectives of the National Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP) through community-based strategies.
Represented by the wife of the Deputy Senate President, Mrs. Laila Barau, the First Lady praised the NDLEA and its Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), for initiating the program. She emphasized that the rising cases of drug and substance abuse, especially among adolescents, require urgent and collective intervention.
“Governors’ wives must use insights from this workshop to design practical, localized solutions to end drug abuse in their states,” she said.
In his address, NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Marwa (Rtd) described drug abuse as a critical threat to Nigeria’s development, health, and national security. He disclosed that the agency has arrested 62,595 suspects—including 68 drug barons—seized over 10.3 million kilograms of illicit drugs, secured 11,628 convictions, and destroyed more than 1,330 hectares of cannabis farms.
Also in attendance was Edesili Anani, Coordinator of the Office of the Edo State First Lady, who highlighted ongoing anti-drug efforts in Edo State. She called for increased collaboration among stakeholders to strengthen the impact of these initiatives.
Juliet Samuel-Asein reports
