His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin, has reaffirmed the critical role of traditional institutions in combating drug abuse and trafficking, pledging the unwavering support of the Benin Kingdom to protect Nigerian youths and local communities from the growing menace.
The monarch gave the commitment on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, during a high-profile audience at the Oba’s Palace in Benin City. He received a delegation from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) led by its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), as part of the agency’s ongoing War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign across the country.
During the meeting, Oba Ewuare II emphasized that traditional rulers occupy a unique position at the grassroots level, making them essential partners in enforcing community-level awareness and dismantling illicit drug networks.
He assured the agency that the palace and traditional structures throughout Edo State would actively back policies aimed at curbing substance abuse and providing viable alternative livelihoods for vulnerable youths.
Highlighting the severity of the crisis, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa revealed alarming statistics, noting that over 15 million Nigerians currently participate in drug use, roughly three times the global average. He reported that in the past year alone, the NDLEA arrested more than 1,200 suspects and confiscated over 30 tonnes of illicit substances within Edo State.
To address the root of the problem, Marwa sought the royal blessing to roll out the agency’s Alternative Development Programme in the kingdom, an initiative designed to encourage local cannabis farmers to transition into legal agricultural ventures.
The delegation’s visit to the palace followed an earlier engagement at the Government House in Benin City with Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo. Governor Okpebholo identified drug abuse as a major catalyst for violent crime, cultism, and kidnapping in the state, promising full logistical and operational support to the NDLEA’s state command.
The advocacy drive concluded with broader community engagements involving transport unions, religious leaders, and civil society organizations to establish a unified front against drug trafficking.
