African Union Emphasizes NDLEA’s Critical Role in Shaping New Continental Drug Control Plan

 The African Union (AU) Commission, on June 30, 2025, underscored the pivotal role of Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in developing a new continental action plan on drug control and crime prevention for 2026–2030. 

During an assessment visit to NDLEA’s National Headquarters in Abuja, Dr. Olubusayo Akinola, Head of Social Welfare, Drug Control, and Crime Prevention at the AU, led a delegation including Dr. Abiola Olaleye, Senior Drug Epidemiology and Research Officer, and Prof. Johan Strijdom, Senior Drug Control Consultant. Dr. Akinola emphasized that the plan, set to replace the 2019–2025 framework, would be incomplete without NDLEA’s expertise, given Nigeria’s leadership in combating Africa’s $50 billion illicit drug trade.

The delegation’s visit aimed to evaluate the implementation of the current AU Plan of Action, which has reduced drug trafficking incidents by 15% across 54 member states, and to gather insights for the new strategy. “NDLEA’s consistent provision of policy-relevant data has shaped our continental approach,” Akinola noted, citing Nigeria’s interception of 1.2 million kilograms of illicit drugs in 2024, including 124,000 tramadol tablets in Benue alone. The AU seeks to address institutional gaps, proposing technical assistance in capacity building, forensic science, and canine detection units to enhance NDLEA’s operations, which account for 30% of Africa’s drug seizures.

NDLEA Chairman, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (retd), personally received the delegation, highlighting the strategic importance of the collaboration. “This partnership is not theoretical; it’s about actionable outcomes,” Marwa said, referencing NDLEA’s 2024 arrests of 10,000 traffickers, including a high-profile NURTW chairman in Ekiti. 

The new plan aims to cut Africa’s drug-related crimes by 20% by 2030, targeting the $10 billion heroin and cocaine markets. Nigeria, with 14.3 million drug users, faces a 40% share of West Africa’s drug burden, per UNODC data. The AU delegation plans a follow-up summit in Addis Ababa in Q4 2025 to finalize the strategy, with NDLEA leading training for 5,000 regional officers.