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Marwa: New Drug Control Master Plan to Deepen Crackdown, Strengthen Public Health Response

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Marwa: New Drug Control Master Plan to Deepen Crackdown, Strengthen Public Health Response

By: Michael Mike

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd) has declared that the forthcoming National Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP) 2026–2030 will mark decisive new phase in Nigeria’s fight against illicit drugs, addiction, and related criminal networks.

Speaking on Thursday at the agency’s national headquarters in Abuja, Marwa while receiving the final summative evaluation report on the implementation of the 2021–2025 master plan, described the review as both a scorecard of progress and a compass for future reforms.

He said the next five-year framework is being designed to consolidate operational gains recorded in recent years while closing critical gaps, particularly in prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation.

“With the depth of preparation and the seriousness attached to the 2026–2030 Master Plan, its execution will significantly strengthen our ongoing drug control efforts,” Marwa said. “When fully implemented, it will deliver measurable improvements in public health outcomes and reinforce national security.”

According to him, Nigeria’s drug challenge remains intertwined with organised crime, insurgency financing, and youth vulnerability, making a comprehensive and coordinated response imperative.

He stressed that the new master plan will further integrate supply reduction strategies—such as seizures, arrests, and dismantling of trafficking syndicates—with demand reduction efforts, including education, counselling, and community-based rehabilitation programmes.

Marwa commended the evaluation team led by Prof. Ibrahim Wakama of the University of Maiduguri for what he described as a rigorous and objective assessment of the 2021–2025 plan.

“I must commend your diligence and professionalism,” he said. “Your recognition of the successes achieved under both the drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction pillars is well appreciated. It is important that we build on these gains as we move into the next cycle.”

The NDLEA chief expressed confidence that under the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu, the agency would achieve even greater milestones in safeguarding communities from the devastating impact of narcotics and psychotropic substances.

Earlier, Prof. Wakawa praised Marwa’s leadership, noting that the agency had exceeded many of the targets set in the 2021–2025 framework. He said the evaluation revealed substantial progress in operational efficiency, inter-agency coordination, and public awareness campaigns.

While acknowledging areas that require strengthening—particularly in drug demand reduction—Wakawa voiced optimism that the NDLEA would address identified gaps through improved policy alignment, resource deployment, and stakeholder collaboration under the new master plan.

He was joined by Mrs. Ngozi Oguejiofor and Mrs. Ibiba Odili, both retired Assistant Commanders General of Narcotics and former heads of the NDCMP secretariat, who contributed to the evaluation process.

The National Drug Control Master Plan serves as Nigeria’s central policy blueprint for combating drug trafficking and substance abuse. It aligns law enforcement operations with prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and multi-sectoral engagement—an approach authorities say is essential to confronting a drug crisis that threatens both public health and national stability.

With preparations for the 2026–2030 plan nearing completion, stakeholders say its implementation could define the next chapter of Nigeria’s anti-drug campaign, combining tougher enforcement with a more expansive public health response.

Marwa: New Drug Control Master Plan to Deepen Crackdown, Strengthen Public Health Response

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Nigeria, Saudi Arabia Deepen Humanitarian Alliance as NEMA, KSrelief Roll Out Food Aid to Five States

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Nigeria, Saudi Arabia Deepen Humanitarian Alliance as NEMA, KSrelief Roll Out Food Aid to Five States

By: Michael Mike

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening humanitarian cooperation with the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), as both partners move to scale up emergency food assistance for vulnerable communities across Nigeria.

This was disclosed in Abuja when the Director-General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, received a delegation from KSrelief at the agency’s headquarters, where both sides reviewed ongoing collaboration and planned the next phase of direct humanitarian interventions.

Mrs. Umar commended KSrelief for its sustained support to disaster-affected and vulnerable populations in Nigeria, noting that the partnership has continued to reinforce federal humanitarian response efforts, particularly in reaching communities impacted by disasters, food insecurity, and other vulnerabilities.

KSrelief’s representative, Mr. Majeed Alanazi, said the visit was aimed at strengthening coordination with NEMA ahead of the rollout of direct food basket distribution to selected households in targeted states. He emphasized the organisation’s continued commitment to supporting vulnerable populations and improving welfare outcomes in affected communities.

According to the plan, the food assistance programme will be implemented across Yobe, Benue, Kebbi, Taraba, and Anambra States—covering both conflict-affected and food-insecure populations.

Both organisations described the initiative as part of a broader effort to deepen humanitarian reach and ensure more efficient delivery of aid to households most in need across Nigeria.

Nigeria, Saudi Arabia Deepen Humanitarian Alliance as NEMA, KSrelief Roll Out Food Aid to Five States

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Five Feared Dead in Fresh Attack in Gero Area Near NIPPS of Plateau State

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Five Feared Dead in Fresh Attack in Gero Area Near NIPPS of Plateau State

By: Zagazola Makama

At least five persons have been reportedly killed in an attack by armed men at a mining site in Gero Village, Gyel District of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Sources said that the attackers were armed Fulani assailants who stormed the mining site and opened fire on workers and residents in the area.

The latest attack reportedly occurred hours after an earlier assault on security personnel at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, which led to the deaths of three officers.

Gero Village is said to be located about five kilometres from the NIPSS facility, raising concerns among residents over the proximity of repeated security incidents in the area.

Meanwhile, tensions remain high in surrounding communities as residents called for increased security presence to prevent further escalation.

Five Feared Dead in Fresh Attack in Gero Area Near NIPPS of Plateau State

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Three Police Officers Killed as IED Explodes in Zamfara State

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Three Police Officers Killed as IED Explodes in Zamfara State

By: Zagazola Makama

Three police officers have been killed following the explosion of an improvised explosive device (IED) along the Anka–Bagega road in Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

Security sources said the incident occurred on June 15 at about 5:05 p.m. when the Officer-in-Charge of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit, SP Abdulrazak Musa Hassan, led a team to the area to detonate a suspected explosive device believed to have been planted by armed bandits.

The team, which included personnel of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), was reportedly conducting a controlled clearance operation using an armoured personnel carrier when the vehicle accidentally triggered the explosive device.

The explosion resulted in the immediate death of SP Abdulrazak Musa Hassan, Inspector Murtala Musa of the VCRU, and Inspector Auwal Ahmad attached to the EOD unit.

Their bodies were evacuated to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Gusau, for post-mortem examination.

Authorities said the remains of the officers have been deposited at the hospital morgue, while investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Security operations in the area have since been reinforced as efforts continue to clear the road and prevent further attacks.

Three Police Officers Killed as IED Explodes in Zamfara State

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