Chairman/chief executive officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Buba Marwa has assumed office, assuring the agency would be overhauled and expanded.
Assuming office on Monday, Marwa said his plan to overhaul the agency was in agreement with the recommendations of the presidential advisory committee for the elimination of drug abuse (PACEDA).
Marwa said it would also be within existing financial constraints, and the authorisation of the appropriate superior authorities.
“Together, by the grace of God, we will resuscitate and reposition NDLEA to full active life, to be effective, respected and feared by concerned criminals. Nigeria is the only country we have, we cannot fold our arms. We can, will and must eliminate the drug scourge,” he said.
Marwa’s appointment was announced in a statement over the weekend. He replaces Col. Muhammad Abdallah (retd.) whose tenure expired on January 11.
A close ally of President Muhammadu Buhari, the former military administrator of Lagos and Borno states had worked as chairman of PACEDA between 2018 and December 2020 along with others to develop a blueprint on how to end drug abuse in Nigeria.