Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has stated that Nigeria cannot fully harness the wealth of its coastal and marine resources unless it prioritizes the fight against drug trafficking as a vital defense for its developing blue economy.
Speaking in Abuja at the Presidential Dinner for the Graduating Senior Executive Course 47/2025 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPS), organized by the Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI) on Thursday night, Marwa highlighted the link between maritime security, national prosperity, and the growing threats from international drug trafficking organizations.
He pointed out the vast opportunities within Nigeria’s blue economy, including maritime transport, offshore oil and gas, coastal tourism, fisheries, and port operations. However, he warned that these opportunities are being severely compromised by illegal drug trafficking in Nigeria’s waterways.
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Marwa explained that drug smuggling groups take advantage of legitimate vessels, corrupt maritime infrastructure, and expose coastal communities to violence, pollution, and economic disruption.
He also noted that chemicals from illegal drug production, such as dangerous methamphetamine labs hidden in residential areas, cause irreversible harm to Nigeria’s marine ecosystem.
“To fully realize the potential of our coastal and marine resources, we must view the fight against drug trafficking as a direct defense of the blue economy,” he asserted.
He emphasized that drug-related crime is not merely a social issue but a direct threat to national development, biodiversity, and sustainable livelihoods.
The NDLEA chairman praised the graduating participants and reiterated the significant opportunities present in Nigeria’s blue economy, including maritime transport, offshore oil and gas, coastal tourism, fisheries, and port operations.
He cited recent drug seizures as evidence of the magnitude of the threat, including a one-ton cocaine interception in Tincan valued at approximately ₦360 billion, along with two drug-laden vessels from Brazil that are still detained.
He also recalled earlier operations, such as the 2.1-ton cocaine seizure in Ikorodu, worth nearly ₦800 billion in today’s currency, with four out of five kingpins already convicted.
Marwa concluded that protecting Nigeria’s waters from drug syndicates is crucial not only for saving lives but also for unlocking billions in revenue, safeguarding the environment, and ensuring a prosperous, maritime-driven future for the country.
He assured that the NDLEA is ramping up intelligence operations across seaports and inland waterways in collaboration with the Nigerian Navy, Customs, NIMASA, and international partners.
In his speech, AANI National President, Ambassador Emmanuel Okafor, stated that the dinner also represented President Bola Tinubu’s instruction for NIPS to create a detailed plan to tackle the country’s security issues.
Okafor commended the institute for shaping participants into strategic thinkers and encouraged the graduating class to maintain the values they learned throughout the program.
