President Tinubu Reappoints Mohammed Buba Marwa as NDLEA Chairman for Second Five-Year Term

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the reappointment of Brigadier-General Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd) as the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for another five-year term. The reappointment, which was confirmed today, Friday, November 14, 2025, ensures the continuity of the highly successful anti-narcotics campaign until 2031.

Marwa, a respected administrator and former Military Governor of Lagos State, was first appointed to the role in January 2021 by former President Muhammadu Buhari. His first tenure was widely lauded for repositioning the NDLEA into one of the nation’s most effective law enforcement agencies.

The State House, in confirming the decision, stated that the reappointment is a clear “vote of confidence” in Marwa’s “onerous efforts to rid our country of the menace of drug trafficking and drug abuse.”

Record-Breaking Enforcement and Reforms

Under Marwa’s leadership, the NDLEA has achieved figures that surpass the combined performance of some previous administrations. The State House statement highlighted the arrest of over 73,000 drug mules and barons and the seizure of more than 15 million kilogrammes of various illicit substances. In 2024 alone, the agency secured more than 12,000 convictions, significantly improving the prosecution rate.

Only this week, the agency demonstrated its global reach by engaging in a high-profile collaboration with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (US-DEA) and the United Kingdom National Crime Agency (UK-NCA) to investigate a massive 1,000-kilogram cocaine bust at Lagos Port, underscoring the international credibility restored to the agency.

President Tinubu tasked General Marwa not to rest on his laurels but to intensify the fight against drug cartels and sustain the institutional reforms, including the agency’s dual approach of hard drug interdiction and the “War Against Drug Abuse (WADA)” campaign, which prioritizes the counselling and rehabilitation of drug users.

The reappointment signifies the administration’s firm commitment to combating drug-related challenges, which are directly linked to national security and youth development.