Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, has described drug abuse as both a symptom and driver of insecurity in Nigeria.
Speaking in Abuja on Saturday night at the 38th anniversary reunion of the Nigerian Military School (NMS) Class of 1982, Marwa warned that narcotics are a common thread linking terrorism, insurgency, violent crimes, and social decay.
“Where there are drugs, there is insecurity. Where there are drugs, there is terrorism. Where there are drugs, there is moral collapse,” he said.
Marwa revealed that within the last two years, NDLEA operatives had intercepted more than 1.8 billion tramadol tablets, 400 million bottles of codeine syrup, and 500,000 Captagon pills hidden inside industrial machines intended for insurgents.
He emphasized that discipline and character remain the strongest shields against drug abuse and called for collective efforts by families, schools, faith institutions, civil society, and the media to tackle the menace.
In his remarks, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa — represented by Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla — reaffirmed the Armed Forces’ commitment to loyalty, service, and discipline in defending Nigeria’s sovereignty.
Musa congratulated the NMS 1982 Alumni Association on sustaining its bond for nearly four decades, noting that the set had produced two serving Service Chiefs — Vice Admiral Ogalla and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar.
Sharing his reflections, Ogalla expressed pride in being a product of NMS, describing the institution as a crucible that molded boys from diverse backgrounds into men of discipline, loyalty, resilience, and patriotism.
“NMS is no ordinary school. It took us from different walks of life and gave us one common purpose — service to our nation. Nothing makes me prouder than being an NMS boy,” he said.
He urged members of the Class of ’82 to remain united, give back to their alma mater, and inspire younger cadets still undergoing training.
The reunion brought together alumni from across Nigeria and the diaspora, celebrating their achievements and reaffirming their commitment to national service.