President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has renewed the appointment of Brigadier-General Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd) as Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for another five-year term, extending his leadership of the agency until 2031.
The announcement was made in a State House statement released by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, and posted on his X account on Friday, November 14, 2025.
Marwa, who was first appointed to the role by former President Muhammadu Buhari in January 2021, has been widely credited with revitalizing the NDLEA and spearheading one of the most aggressive drug enforcement campaigns in Nigeria’s recent history.
Before his appointment, Marwa chaired the Presidential Advisory Committee for the Elimination of Drug Abuse from 2018 to 2020. His extensive public service career includes serving as military governor of both Lagos and Borno States, and holding several high-profile military and diplomatic roles.
He is a graduate of the Nigerian Military School, the Nigerian Defence Academy, and holds two advanced degrees: a Master of Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University.
Under his leadership, the NDLEA has recorded significant successes, including the arrest of over 73,000 drug traffickers and barons and the seizure of more than 15 million kilogrammes of illicit drugs. Marwa has also driven nationwide sensitization campaigns aimed at curbing drug abuse, especially among young Nigerians.
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President Tinubu praised Marwa for his achievements and urged him to continue his efforts with renewed vigour.
“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,” the president said.
Marwa’s renewed mandate positions him to further consolidate the NDLEA’s reform drive and strengthen Nigeria’s fight against drug trafficking and abuse over the next five years.