NDLEA warns students on drug abuse
By Ejire Folakunmi
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mohamed Buba Marwa, has warned Nigerian youths against the dangers of drug abuse, stressing that its consequences can permanently derail their future ambitions.
Marwa delivered the warning on Tuesday while presenting the convocation lecture for the 29th and 30th combined ceremonies of the University of Abuja, themed “High Today, Lost Tomorrow: The Real Cost of Drug Abuse on Campus.”
Addressing graduating students, he said substance abuse has evolved beyond street-level concerns into a growing crisis within academic institutions, fuelled by the rise of synthetic drugs and the misuse of digital platforms for distribution.
He cautioned that involvement in drug-related offences carries long-term consequences, including criminal records that could shut doors to professional careers in fields such as law, medicine, and engineering.
“A criminal record for drug offences is a life sentence on your career before it even begins,” he warned.
Marwa noted that drug abuse not only affects cognitive functions—such as memory and critical thinking—but also fuels cultism and campus violence, posing broader risks to society. He added that the NDLEA’s zero-tolerance stance means offenders risk losing both educational and professional opportunities.
Citing data from national surveys and NDLEA operations, he revealed that a significant proportion of drug-related arrests and rehabilitation cases involve young Nigerians, many of whom are introduced to substance use in their teenage years.
According to him, over 60 per cent of the 77,859 drug offenders arrested in the past five years were youths, while the majority of the 48,836 individuals treated in NDLEA facilities within the same period were also young people.
He urged students to remain focused and make conscious choices as they transition into the next phase of their lives, warning against peer pressure and unhealthy social influences.
“You are about to enter a world that is AI-powered and fintech-driven. There is no room for a clouded mind in a fast-paced world,” Marwa said, adding that “Nigeria needs your talent, your energy, and—most importantly—your sober mind to lead us into the next decade.”
The NDLEA boss also called for a collective response to the growing menace, noting that drug abuse has far-reaching consequences beyond individual users, affecting families, institutions, and national development.
He commended the University of Abuja for its collaboration with the agency in strengthening campus surveillance and urged other institutions to prioritise drug education through orientation programmes and academic engagement.
Dignitaries at the event included the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Senator Olanrewaju Tejuoso, Vice-Chancellor Professor Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi, and other senior officials of the university, alongside NDLEA personnel.