President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to reappoint Brigadier-General Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd) as Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has been widely regarded by Nigerians as a well-deserved move.

The government’s decision to reappoint him to lead the anti-narcotics agency for another five years shows continued commitment to combating drug trafficking and confidence in his leadership.

A lot of Nigerians have commended his reappointment and extension of tenure till 2031 as well-deserved, crediting him for ensuring and restoring credibility to the NDLEA, even as they charged him to continue with the war with intensity and more transparency during his tenure.

Onyeka Onyebuchi on X (formerly known as Twitter) said, “Keeping Marwa in charge signals that the federal government wants to preserve the agency, institutional reforms, and international partnerships the NDLEA has pursued since 2021. Leaving him there reduces disruption to ongoing investigations and cross-border operations and makes long multi-year probes easier to complete.

Adejoke Ogude said, “Marwa’s reappointment is a clear signal from the presidency that Nigeria will continue a forceful, high-visibility approach to drug enforcement. This man should not relent.” It is a “well-deserved appointment. General Buba Marwa has done remarkable work as the chairman of NDLEA.”

Adejoke Kehinde, a health worker in Abuja, said,” Street drugs became harder to purchase. Did a wonderful job and helped many people I know get their lives back.”  President Tinubu’s reappointment of Buba Marwa reflects confidence in his proven leadership and continued commitment to fighting drug abuse in Nigeria, she noted.

Acknowledging Marwa’s achievements, in his letter of reappointment, President Tinubu described his renewed tenure as recognition of his dedication to strengthening the country’s drug control efforts.

“Your reappointment is a vote of confidence in your onerous efforts to rid our country of the menace of drug trafficking and drug abuse. I urge you not to relent in tracking the merchants of hard drugs, out to destroy our people, especially the young ones”.

Between 2021-2025, Brigadier Marwa was first appointed to head the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in January 2021 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, following his successful stint as Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee for the Elimination of Drug Abuse (PACE) between 2018 and December 2020. His reappointment by President Tinubu means the Adamawa-born retired military officer will continue to steer the NDLEA until 2031.

Since becoming the head of the NDLEA in 2021, Marwa has led one of Nigeria’s most determined crackdowns on drug offences. Under his leadership, the agency has carried out numerous major drug busts, arresting over 73,000 individuals involved in drug trafficking—ranging from couriers to top barons—and seizing more than 15 million kilograms of various illegal drugs. He has also launched extensive nationwide campaigns to reduce drug abuse among young people.

Implications of His Reappointment on the War Against Drugs

Since becoming the NDLEA head in 2021, Marwa has turned the agency into one of the country’s most dynamic law enforcement organisations.

Marwa’s reappointment is seen as a strategic step to maintain progress in the country’s fight against drug trafficking. His previous term saw strong enforcement, record drug seizures, and intensified action against cartels.

His continuation is expected to reinforce operational consistency, deepen ongoing reforms, and strengthen Nigeria’s international collaborations on narcotics control. The presidency’s endorsement signals that the administration intends to maintain pressure on drug networks destabilising communities across the country.

Under his watch, he achieved several milestones in restructuring the agency through policy and institutional structures.

For instance, under his watch, over 73,000 drug offenders, including traffickers, couriers, and high-profile barons, were arrested. More than fifteen million kilograms of assorted illicit drugs were seized, the highest in the agency’s history.

Also, NDLEA conducted landmark international operations in partnership with global agencies. He launched the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, a nationwide sensitisation movement targeting youth involvement in drugs. The agency expanded rehabilitation and counselling services and strengthened community-level anti-drug initiatives.

More Informed Agency

With Brig-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd.) reappointment as NDLEA Chairman until 2031, experts have mentioned that the NDLEA Chairman, some opine that in his second term, more technology should be deployed in the war against drugs.

Mr Ajayi Adeleke, a governance and Public Policy expert, says Marwa’s second tenure comes with higher expectations, more accountability demands, and pressure to convert previous gains into long-term institutional impact.

“Marwa’s second term must shift from aggressive enforcement to sustainable, structural drug control. He is expected not only to deepen the war against traffickers and barons, but also to expand rehabilitation, strengthen legal outcomes, secure borders, and build an NDLEA that remains effective long after his tenure ends.” Mr Ajayi said.

Also, he talked about bringing advanced technology into the system to aid the shrinking supply of drugs in and outside of the country, especially at the borders and airports.

“Most hard drugs enter through borders and ports. Securing entry points is the single most effective way to shrink supply. The agency should invest in advanced technological tools and consider the integration of NDLEA intelligence with Customs and Immigration, as these will make their work easier and productive.” Mr Adeleke said.

The man Buba Marwa

He was born in Michika, Adamawa State. He attended the Nigerian Military School, Zaria, and later the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), where he trained as an officer. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1973 and went on to occupy several strategic military and diplomatic roles.

A distinguished soldier and administrator, Marwa’s public service career spans more than five decades. His early military postings included serving as brigade major of the 23 Armoured Brigade and Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Theophilus Danjuma.

He later became the academic registrar of the Nigerian Defence Academy before receiving international assignments as Deputy Defence Adviser at the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, D.C., and subsequently as Defence Adviser to Nigeria’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations.

Marwa also holds two advanced degrees: a Master of Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh (1983–85) and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University (1985–86). Beyond his military service, he carved a political legacy as military governor of Borno State and later Lagos State, where he gained national recognition for major urban reforms.

He was appointed Military Administrator of Lagos in August 1996. His three-year tenure in the state was accompanied by strategic programmes. The feats were achieved on a strict budget of N14billion. Marwa, who did not borrow from any bank throughout his tenure, handed over a cash amount of N2billion―the highest amount handed over from one state administration to another. He handed over the reins of power to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the civilian governor in 1999.

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