OKPEBHOLO, OBA OF BENIN DECLARE SUPPORT FOR DRUG WAR AS MARWA TAKES ADVOCACY TO EDO, MOBILISES TRANSPORT UNIONS, RELIGIOUS LEADERS AGAINST SUBSTANCE ABUSE

By Olayiwola Ibrahim // Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo and the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, have declared full support for the ongoing national campaign against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.

The two leaders made the declaration on Wednesday 4th November, 2026, when the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), took the Agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy to Benin City.

Receiving Marwa and his team on a courtesy visit at the Government House, Benin City, Governor Okpebholo said he has long admired the NDLEA boss.

“You are someone I have admired from afar since my secondary school days, the Governor said.

He said the fight against drugs must be a collective responsibility, noting that illicit drugs are at the root of most crimes.

There is need for everyone to get involved and support the fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking, because at the root of virtually every crime is the issue of drugs. From our experience, even kidnappers first ask their victims for drugs before demanding ransom. That shows that illicit drug is our enemy,” he said.

Governor Okpebholo commended NDLEA officers in Edo State and pledged full support for the Agency.

Your officers and men in Edo are doing excellent work. We are ready to work with you, we are ready to partner with you, and we are ready to support you with any request you bring before us,” he assured.

In his response, Marwa commended the Governor for the giant developmental strides recorded across the state within a short time in office and lauded his firm stance against illicit drugs.

He explained that the main purpose of the visit was the Agency’s Alternative Development Programme introduced last year to switch cannabis growers from illicit cropping to licit crops and sustainable livelihoods.

According to him, the pilot phase launched in Ondo State in January this year has yielded impressive results, hence the move to launch the next phase in Edo State. He sought the Governor’s buy-in and more logistics support for NDLEA operations in the state.

Highpoint of the visit was the decoration of Governor Okpebholo as WADA Grand Ambassador in recognition of his commitment to the drug war.

Marwa and his team later paid homage to the Oba of Benin at his palace, where he described drug scourge as one of the three leading problems facing Nigeria.

He noted that over 15 million Nigerians abuse drugs, a prevalence rate about three times the global average, and the problem has crept into schools and communities, including Benin Kingdom.

He disclosed that last year alone, the Agency arrested over 1,200 drug traffickers and seized more than 30 tons of illicit substances in Edo State, while of the 16 million kilograms of assorted illicit substances seized nationwide in the last five years, 75 percent was cannabis cultivated locally, with Edo among cultivating states.

It is the job of NDLEA to enforce the law against drug trafficking and as well help those addicted with counselling, treatment and rehabilitation. But we cannot do it alone.

It is a whole-of-society approach. We need traditional institutions, the church, CSOs, government and the media. Most importantly, the traditional institution, because there is no single institution in Nigeria today that commands the respect that the traditional institution has, Marwa said.

He acknowledged the Oba’s support in fighting drug abuse, kidnapping and human trafficking, noting that the monarch’s intervention against human trafficking helped reduce the menace in the Kingdom.

He sought the Oba’s blessing for communities to shun drug cultivation and trading and for the Alternative Development Programme.

Explaining the programme, Marwa said Nigeria is the first country in Africa to adopt alternative development as a strategic pillar of drug control, an approach welcomed by UNODC and endorsed by Federal Government as part of Renewed Hope Agenda.

Under the scheme, cannabis growers are persuaded to switch to crops such as cassava, yam and maize, with support from federal and state governments and NDLEA in form of farm inputs and community infrastructure such as roads, schools, clinics and water.

The growers themselves have confided in us that they are grateful for this initiative. Even though there is more money in cannabis, they will at least have peace of mind when they cultivate licit crops. With cannabis, they are perpetually ill at ease in their homes with their families for fear of NDLEA, he said.

Responding, the Oba of Benin thanked the NDLEA Chairman for the visit and recognition accorded the Kingdom.

Thank you very much for recognising the work of Benin, the people and the culture of the people, and also the efforts we have been making to fight the scourge of drug abuse, the monarch said.

The Oba added that he has a suggestion on how to improve the Agency’s work which he prefers to communicate privately.

I have a suggestion that I will make in writing to NDLEA. I would not want to state it here in public. I want to put it quietly as my own thinking on how to improve the work of NDLEA, and I will forward it directly to the Chairman for you to advise your formidable team,” he said.

As part of the WADA advocacy in the state, Marwa also held separate meetings with leaders of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) led by Comrade Saturday Oamen, while he will address religious and civil society leaders tomorrow.

Addressing the drivers union, he urged them to deploy their platforms and influence to sensitise members and followers against drug abuse and trafficking and to partner with NDLEA in keeping roads, motor parks and communities free of illicit drugs.