Abayomi Susan
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.), has commended the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) and its Executive Secretary/CEO, Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan, for their sustained support and collaboration in the fight against illicit drugs and organised crime.
Marwa gave the commendation during a ceremony in Lagos where the NDLEA publicly destroyed illicit drugs valued at approximately N301.058 billion.
The event also provided an opportunity for the agency to recognise key stakeholders whose contributions have strengthened efforts to combat drug trafficking and abuse in the country. Marwa personally presented an award of recognition to Ogunsan in appreciation of the LSSTF’s “collaboration and demonstrable partnership for a drug-free society.”
The award, which was received on behalf of Ogunsan by the Director of Administration, Mr. Adegbola Lewis, highlighted the importance of collaboration between law-enforcement agencies, government institutions and other stakeholders in addressing Nigeria’s drug problem.
Through its public-private partnership model, the LSSTF provides resources and support for critical components of Lagos State’s security architecture. Its interventions have included operational equipment, vehicles, infrastructure and capacity-building initiatives aimed at improving the effectiveness of security and law-enforcement agencies, including the NDLEA.
The recognition of Ogunsan therefore goes beyond an individual honour, as it represents an acknowledgement of the role sustained institutional support can play in strengthening the frontline fight against illicit drugs, organised crime and other security threats.
NDLEA Destroys Drugs Worth N301bn
The NDLEA destruction exercise, conducted on Monday, August 17, at Navy Town, Ojo, Lagos, followed orders of the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, and involved exhibits from concluded cases as well as abandoned seizures.
According to the agency, a total of 329,865.585 kilogrammes of assorted illicit drugs, with an estimated street value of N301,058,076,000, were destroyed.
The Lagos Strategic Command accounted for 246,864.535 kilogrammes of the seized substances between April 2025 and May 2026, while another 83,001.05 kilogrammes were recovered through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Tincan and Apapa Strategic Commands, Marine Command and a Special Operations Unit.
The destroyed substances included cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, cannabis varieties such as Canadian Loud and skunk, ephedrine, tramadol, codeine syrup, other opioids and khat leaves.
Speaking at the event, Marwa described the destruction as a strong demonstration of Nigeria’s determination to protect its citizens and prevent criminal networks from benefiting from the illicit drug trade.
He stressed that the significance of the seized substances went beyond their monetary value, noting that drug abuse has serious consequences for individuals, families and communities, including addiction, impaired driving, crime and the loss of productive young lives.
The NDLEA chairman also linked the illicit drug economy to wider national security challenges, explaining that proceeds from drug trafficking can finance organised criminal groups, terrorism and violent extremism.
Marwa warned drug barons, traffickers, financiers, distributors and dealers operating in the country that the agency would continue to pursue them regardless of where they operate.
He assured that the NDLEA would remain committed to dismantling drug trafficking networks and disrupting the financial structures that sustain them.
The NDLEA boss commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for its support and acknowledged the contributions of the Judiciary, Lagos State Government, military, sister security agencies, international partners, LSSTF, civil society organisations, traditional institutions, the media and members of the public.
Sanwo-Olu, Customs, Navy Pledge Support
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, described the scale of the destruction as a sobering reminder of the dangers posed by illicit drugs to communities and young Nigerians.
The governor said the exercise demonstrated what could be achieved when law-enforcement agencies, the judiciary and government institutions work together towards a common objective.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, also commended the NDLEA, saying the volume of drugs seized sent a strong warning to traffickers that Nigeria would not provide a safe haven for their activities.
Adeniyi noted that drug trafficking is closely linked to the activities of violent non-state actors, as proceeds from narcotics can provide financial support for banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, insurgency and terrorism.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abdullahi Mustapha, assured the NDLEA of the Nigerian Navy’s continued support in the fight against illicit drugs.
Also speaking on behalf of the NDLEA Lagos Strategic Command and other commands in the state, the Commander of the Lagos Strategic Command, ACGN Wali Liman Abubakar, appreciated the Judiciary, Lagos State Government, LSSTF, Dr. Ogunsan and other sister security agencies for their continued partnership.
Abubakar urged young Nigerians to reject illicit drugs and embrace healthy and productive lifestyles.
He reaffirmed the NDLEA’s commitment to ensuring that seized narcotics are permanently removed from circulation and do not return to the streets and communities.
He noted that Lagos, as Nigeria’s commercial capital and a major gateway into the country, continues to record significant drug seizures, adding that the destruction of the exhibits sends a clear warning to traffickers and criminal organisations that illicit drug activities will not be tolerated.
Against this backdrop, Marwa’s recognition of Ogunsan and the LSSTF highlights the growing importance of strategic partnerships in Nigeria’s fight against illicit drugs.
The battle, stakeholders noted, goes beyond arrests, seizures and prosecutions. It also requires adequate equipment, mobility, infrastructure, intelligence and human capacity to enable frontline agencies to effectively combat traffickers and protect vulnerable communities.
For the LSSTF, the recognition further underscores its commitment to collaborative security interventions and its efforts to strengthen the institutional capacity of security agencies operating across Lagos State.
