President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially extended the tenure of Brigadier-General Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd) as Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for an additional five years.
According to Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Marwa’s reappointment was announced on Friday. Originally appointed by late President Muhammadu Buhari in January 2021, Marwa had previously chaired the Presidential Advisory Committee for the Elimination of Drug Abuse from 2018 to December 2020.
The extension secures Marwa’s leadership of the NDLEA until 2031. Born in Adamawa State, Marwa is a former military governor of Lagos and Borno States and a graduate of both the Nigerian Military School and the Nigerian Defence Academy. Commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1973, his military career included roles such as brigade major of the 23 Armoured Brigade, Aide-de-Camp to Chief of Army Staff Theophilus Danjuma, and academic registrar of the NDA. He also served as Deputy Defence Adviser at Nigeria’s Washington, DC Embassy and later as Defence Adviser to Nigeria’s UN Mission.
Marwa holds two postgraduate degrees: a Master of Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh (1983–1985) and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University (1985–1986).
During his tenure at the NDLEA, Marwa has overseen the arrest of 73,000 drug traffickers and the seizure of over 15 million kilogrammes of hard drugs. His leadership has also driven nationwide campaigns to combat drug abuse.
President Tinubu praised his efforts, stating, “Your reappointment reflects our confidence in your relentless fight against drug trafficking and abuse. I urge you to continue targeting those who threaten our people, especially the youth.”
