The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) announced on Friday, October 9, 2026, that it has successfully counselled, treated, and rehabilitated 53,843 individuals struggling with substance use disorders across its 31 rehabilitation facilities nationwide over the past five years.
The disclosure was made by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), during a media briefing held at 10:00 AM at the agency’s National Headquarters in Abuja.
Speaking on the agency’s dual mandate of drug supply reduction and demand reduction, Marwa emphasized that the NDLEA’s primary focus extends beyond making arrests to offering structured social and clinical support for those affected by addiction.
”Over the last five years, our demand reduction strategy has yielded significant results. Across our 31 operational rehabilitation centres in the country, we have counselled, treated, and integrated 53,843 individuals back into society,” Marwa stated. “Drug dependency is a health condition that requires care, evidence-based treatment, and compassion rather than mere stigmatization.”
Providing further details on the intervention measures, NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, highlighted that the agency has recently expanded its institutional capacity by upgrading infrastructure and upskilling care providers.
Babafemi noted that over 100 counsellors and clinical officers were recently trained to align local rehab protocols with global best practices.
”To ensure that every person admitted to our facilities receives quality standard treatment, the agency continues to standardize operational guidelines across all 31 centres,” Babafemi added during the event. “We are working closely with local communities, state governments, and international partners to establish additional regional, state-of-the-art facilities.”
The NDLEA leadership reaffirmed its commitment to the National Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP), urging families, religious institutions, and civil society organizations to actively support individuals undergoing rehabilitation.
Marwa concluded by calling on members of the public to utilize the agency’s 24/7 toll-free drug abuse call-center helpline for immediate counselling and referral services, reiterating that early intervention remains critical to combating substance abuse across Nigeria.
