Tinubu’s drug war agenda sparks debate over hidden motives

DDM News

(DDM) – National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has revealed that President Bola Tinubu is prioritising the fight against illicit drug trafficking within Nigeria and across its borders as a key pillar of his administration’s security strategy.

Ribadu made this known during the commissioning of 46 new vehicles for strategic commands and formations of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Abuja.

According to DDM, the president’s decision is tied to a broader plan to strengthen NDLEA under the leadership of retired General Buba Marwa and enhance Nigeria’s overall security architecture.

Ribadu commended Marwa and his team for their transformative work within the agency, noting that the battle against drugs is directly linked to combating nationwide insecurity.

He explained that Tinubu recognises the systemic connection between narcotics trafficking and violent crimes, which is why the Renewed Hope Agenda prioritises drug control as a central security measure.

“The President’s unwavering support through funding, inter-agency cooperation, and policy alignment has directly enabled today’s milestone,” Ribadu stated.

He added that the newly commissioned vehicles would be deployed nationwide to expand NDLEA’s operational reach, deter traffickers, and ensure that offenders face justice.

DDM reports that the NDLEA, as the lead agency for drug control, is tasked with arresting suspects, seizing illegal substances, conducting investigations, and prosecuting offenders.

Ribadu emphasised that the Office of the National Security Adviser would continue to provide full backing to the agency while coordinating efforts with the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Customs Service, and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

He stressed that the enhanced operational capability of NDLEA would send a strong message to drug cartels that the Nigerian government is determined to dismantle trafficking networks and cut off their influence on security threats.

Under Marwa’s leadership, NDLEA has ramped up high-profile arrests, seizures of multi-billion-naira drug shipments, and destruction of illicit farmlands.

Security experts told DDM that the latest government investment reflects a long-overdue recognition that drugs fuel kidnapping, terrorism, cult violence, and other organised crimes.

They added that dismantling supply chains could reduce the flow of weapons and financial resources to criminal groups operating across Nigeria’s borders.

The move, they said, may also improve Nigeria’s international image in law enforcement cooperation, especially with agencies in West Africa, Europe, and the United States.

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