By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia
NIGERIA’s NATIONAL Drug Law Enforcement Agency holds a pivotal place in shaping Africa’s next strategy on drug control and crime prevention, according to the African Union Commission (AUC).
During a strategic assessment visit to the NDLEA national headquarters in Abuja, the Commission said the Agency’s work remains indispensable to the formulation of the next continental plan, which will guide the AU’s efforts from 2026 to 2030.
The delegation, made up of three senior AU officials, arrived on Monday to evaluate the implementation of the current African Union Plan of Action on Drug Control and Crime Prevention (2019–2025).
Led by Dr Olubusayo Akinola, the Commission’s Head of Social Welfare, Drug Control and Crime Prevention, the team also included Dr Abiola Olaleye, Senior Drug Epidemiology and Research Officer, and Professor Johan Strijdom, Senior Drug Control Consultant.
Dr Akinola said the Commission selected Nigeria for its assessment due to the central role NDLEA plays across the continent.
“We understand very well the work of NDLEA and believe that the formulation of the new action plan will not be finalised until we have inputs from NDLEA Nigeria, because you are basically on the forefront when it comes to law enforcement on the entire continent,” she said.
The delegation commended NDLEA’s consistent delivery of policy-relevant data and intelligence, which has significantly shaped AU’s policy direction over the years.
Their visit, she noted, focused on evaluating current implementation status, identifying institutional gaps, and assessing areas requiring technical support.
These include capacity development, forensic science, canine detection units, and other enablers critical to effective drug control.
Receiving the visitors, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) described the mission as timely and necessary.
He said the Agency was honoured to host the team personally because of the strategic weight of the AU’s efforts.
“We are particularly pleased that the African Union is giving due weight to the implementation of the continental action plan, not merely as a theoretical exercise, but by undertaking direct field consultations with national counterparts,” he said.
Marwa stressed the urgency of confronting Africa’s rapidly worsening drug landscape. While global estimates project a 10–11 percent rise in drug use,
Africa is expected to face a 40 percent increase. “This disparity signals a looming crisis that demands coordinated and accelerated action. We deeply appreciate the AU’s leadership in this space and commend your proactive efforts,” he added.
The new plan, when adopted, Marwa said, is expected to reshape drug control policy and enforcement coordination across African nations for the next five years.
