NDLEA Launches Clean Beat FM, Warns Against Pop Culture That Glorifies Drug Abuse

By: Michael Mike

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (Rtd), has warned that Nigeria faces grave social and security consequences if the growing glorification of illicit drug use in popular culture is left unchecked.

Marwa issued the warning on Thursday during the commissioning of the NDLEA’s radio station, Clean Beat 91.5FM, in Abuja, describing the new platform as a strategic weapon in the agency’s broader War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign.

He called on Nigerians, especially entertainers, influencers, educators, parents and community leaders, to join efforts to challenge what he described as a “toxic pop culture” that increasingly portrays substance abuse as fashionable and acceptable among young people.

According to him, the battle against drug abuse can no longer be won solely through arrests and prosecutions, but through sustained education, prevention and cultural reorientation.

“We recognize that behind every statistic of drug abuse is a human being,” Marwa said. “A vulnerable teenager seeking escape; a broken family searching for answers; a brilliant mind derailed but capable of redirection.”

He said the newly established radio station would provide a counter-narrative to destructive social trends by promoting sobriety, recovery stories and accurate information on the dangers of substance abuse.

“We will counter the toxic pop-culture that glamourizes drug abuse by replacing it with a vibrant, alternative culture—one that celebrates sobriety, showcases real stories of recovery, and provides accurate, life-saving information,” he stated.

The NDLEA boss warned that failure to address the cultural normalization of drug abuse could have devastating implications for national security, public health and economic productivity.

“If we do not control the narrative today, the consequences tomorrow will be catastrophic,” he said. “Substance abuse is a hydra-headed monster that feeds insecurity, decimates public health, cripples economic productivity, and compromises the very future of our workforce.”

Marwa described the launch of Clean Beat 91.5FM as a “paradigm shift” in the agency’s anti-drug strategy, stressing that radio remains one of the most effective means of reaching ordinary Nigerians across homes, markets and communities.

“While enforcement wins battles, education and prevention win wars,” he added. “True victory against the scourge of substance abuse cannot be achieved solely by the cold steel of handcuffs or the iron bars of a prison cell.”

He noted that the establishment of the station was made possible through the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the National Broadcasting Commission and international partners.

Marwa urged Nigerian youths to take ownership of the initiative by engaging with the station’s programmes and becoming advocates against drug abuse.

“To all Nigerians, and most especially to our vibrant youth: this station is yours,” he said. “Let us rewrite the story of our generation; let us guard the health of our nation; and let us protect the rhythm of our future.”

The launch drew commendations from local and international stakeholders, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which described the radio initiative as an innovative and people-centred approach to drug control.

Representing the UNODC Country Representative, Dr. Akanidomo Ibanga said the station would help take anti-drug advocacy directly into homes, schools and communities, while supporting implementation of Nigeria’s National Drug Control Master Plan.

Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission, Mr. Charles Ebuebu, described the station as more than a conventional broadcast outlet, saying it represented “the strategic deployment of broadcasting as an instrument of national orientation, behavioural change, youth engagement and social transformation.”

He emphasized that protecting young Nigerians from substance abuse must be treated as a national development priority.

Similarly, the National Orientation Agency, represented by Mr. Bala Musa on behalf of Director-General Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, praised the initiative as a vital platform for citizen reorientation and positive attitudinal change.

The commissioning of Clean Beat 91.5FM comes amid increasing concern over rising drug abuse among Nigerian youths and growing calls for stronger preventive education to complement law enforcement efforts.

NDLEA Launches Clean Beat FM, Warns Against Pop Culture That Glorifies Drug Abuse

Gowon: US, UK Arms Ban Forced Nigeria to Seek Soviet Support During Civil War

By: Our Reporter

Former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, has revealed that the refusal of the United States and the United Kingdom to supply arms to Nigeria during the civil war forced his administration to seek military support from the Soviet Union and a Lebanese black market arms dealer.

According to Gowon, the unexpected alliances proved decisive in changing the course of the war, which lasted from July 1967 to January 1970.

The disclosure is contained in Chapter Fifteen of his 859 page autobiography, My Life of Duty and Allegiance, unveiled in Abuja on Tuesday. President Bola Tinubu was represented at the launch by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

In the chapter titled If The Devil’s Ready To Help, Gowon recounted the intense struggle his government faced in sourcing weapons as Nigeria’s ammunition reserves dwindled dangerously by late 1968. He revealed that the country’s stockpile had dropped to about half a million rounds for the entire Army, an amount he considered grossly inadequate for sustained military operations.

He explained that international restrictions on arms sales prevented Nigeria from replenishing its military supplies, despite the escalating demands of the conflict.

“As the weeks of fighting wore on, our stock of ammunition was steadily depleted, and we could not replenish them because international sales restrictions prevented suppliers from selling military hardware to Nigeria,” Gowon wrote.

The former military leader added that the shortage forced him to halt further military advances after the capture of Enugu, restricting federal troops to positions around Okigwe and Umuahia.

“Left with no choice, I ordered the Federal troops to hold their position because I could not, in clear conscience, commit them to further advance knowing that the ammunition to sustain the effort was in short supply,” he stated.

Gowon also expressed disappointment with the stance of Western powers, particularly at a time when the United States was heavily involved militarily in Vietnam and Cambodia.

He recalled holding what he described as one of the most significant meetings of the war with the British and American ambassadors, hoping to secure support for Nigeria’s military efforts.

“If I say I’m not disappointed, it will be an understatement,” he said while recounting the encounter.

Gowon noted that he reminded the diplomats of his responsibility to preserve Nigeria’s unity and protect all citizens and foreign nationals living in the country.

He further recalled telling them before their departure from the State House that he would seek assistance from anywhere necessary to defend the nation.

“I will go to any devil to get what I need to deal with the problem and do my duty to my country,” he said.

According to Gowon, both ambassadors left the meeting without making any commitment, but by then, he had already resolved to pursue alternative sources of military support.

Gowon: US, UK Arms Ban Forced Nigeria to Seek Soviet Support During Civil War

Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS Holds Second Moot Court Competition in Dakar

By: Michael Mike

The Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS is hosting the second edition of its annual Moot Court Competition in Dakar, bringing together law students, academics and legal practitioners from across West Africa in a regional initiative aimed at strengthening legal education and deepening understanding of Community law.

The three-day competition, scheduled for May 20 to 22, 2026, is part of the Court’s broader drive to promote awareness of its jurisdiction and jurisprudence while equipping the next generation of lawyers with practical advocacy, research and analytical skills.

Organised under the theme, “Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s Jurists,” the competition is expected to provide participants with hands-on exposure to simulated legal proceedings, enabling them to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world legal practice.

This year’s edition will feature eight universities from francophone ECOWAS member states, including Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Senegal and Togo, while students from a university in Cape Verde will participate as observers. Each institution will field a team made up of two students and a faculty adviser.

The competition is structured in two phases — written and oral. During the written stage, participating teams prepare memorials for both the applicant and respondent based on a hypothetical legal dispute rooted in issues falling within the jurisdiction of the ECOWAS Court. The top-performing teams from the written assessments advance to the oral rounds.

The oral phase in Dakar will feature preliminary and semi-final rounds before designated panels, culminating in a grand finale where the two best teams will argue before a distinguished panel of judges. The event will end with an awards and closing ceremony recognising outstanding teams and participants, while a cultural tour is scheduled for May 23.

The maiden edition of the competition, held in Abuja in 2025, attracted participation from 13 Nigerian universities at the memorial stage, with eight advancing to the oral rounds. Ahmadu Bello University emerged overall winner of the inaugural edition.

Senior government officials from Senegal, members of the Senegalese judiciary and bar association, academics, media representatives, partner organisations and invited guests are expected to attend this year’s competition alongside judges and staff of the ECOWAS Court.

The Court said the initiative reflects its continued commitment to promoting legal excellence, strengthening access to justice and advancing human rights within the West African sub-region.

According to the Court, the programme is also designed to foster stronger institutional ties between the judiciary and academic institutions while nurturing a new generation of lawyers with deeper knowledge of Community law and regional integration mechanisms.

Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS Holds Second Moot Court Competition in Dakar