The National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) has called for a deepened partnership with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to intensify the fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking across Nigeria. This appeal came during a courtesy visit by the women's council to the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja on 5 December 2025.
Council Lauds Presidential Endorsement of Marwa's Leadership
Led by its National President, Edna Azura, the NCWS delegation first commended President Bola Tinubu for the reappointment of Brig-Gen Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd) as the NDLEA Chairman and CEO for another five-year term. Azura described the renewal as a clear national endorsement of Marwa's transformative impact on national security and public health.
She stated that the council is confident his continued leadership will further fortify Nigeria's battle against drugs and promote sustainable peace. Azura praised Marwa's tenure, highlighting unprecedented achievements under his watch, including the dismantling of sophisticated trafficking networks and the interception of record quantities of illicit substances.
Strategic Areas for Proposed Collaboration
The NCWS President outlined specific areas where the women's group seeks to work hand-in-hand with the anti-narcotics agency. She emphasized the critical role of women as mothers and community leaders in prevention efforts.
The proposed areas of cooperation include:
- Joint sensitisation programmes in schools, markets, and local communities.
- Training for NCWS national officers and state leaders to become community anti-drug ambassadors.
- Joint advocacy campaigns targeting mothers and caregivers.
- Rehabilitation and reintegration support, especially for women and youths affected by substance abuse.
Azura noted that NCWS's ongoing outreach programmes have proven that prevention becomes more effective when women are fully engaged.
NDLEA's Response and Call for Societal Ownership
In his response, Chairman Buba Marwa expressed gratitude for the visit and the commendation. He described the drug menace as Nigeria's number one problem, affecting every community directly or indirectly, and cited a population of about 15 million drug users in need of a whole-of-society response.
Marwa stated that the government cannot handle the challenge alone and emphasized that the NCWS is a crucial partner as the mothers handling families nationwide. He announced plans to organise a specialised Drug Use Prevention, Treatment and Care (DPTC) training for the council's leaders in 2026, tailored to their needs to empower them for grassroots action.
Furthermore, Marwa urged the women leaders to take ownership of and advocate for the drug integrity test for intending couples. He framed this as a vital strategy for early detection, discouraging substance abuse, and encouraging treatment among youths.
The meeting concluded with a mutual commitment to formalise the partnership, recognising that empowering women is fundamental to winning the war against drug abuse in Nigerian communities.
