NDLEA, UNODC Unveil Weeklong Activities for 2026 World Drug Day
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have announced a weeklong lineup of activities to mark the 2026 World Drug Day, with the anti-narcotics agency pledging to intensify efforts against drug trafficking networks and their financial operations.
The programme was unveiled during a joint press briefing held at the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja on Friday.
Speaking at the event, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), represented by the agency’s Secretary, Shadrach Haruna, described World Drug Day, observed annually on June 26, as an important platform for reviewing progress in the fight against illicit drugs and charting a course for future action.
Marwa said the theme for this year’s commemoration, “The World Drug Problem: Persisting Issues, New Challenges, Innovative Responses,” reflects the changing dynamics of the global drug landscape, including the rise of synthetic substances, sophisticated trafficking networks and digital drug markets.
According to him, the NDLEA has continued to modernise its operations while strengthening prevention efforts through its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative, which leverages community engagement, data and public awareness campaigns to curb drug abuse, especially among young people.
He announced that the weeklong activities began on June 19 with a press conference and a special Juma’at prayer at the National Mosque, Abuja. Other activities include a Walk Against Drugs on June 20 in collaboration with Baze University, Nile University and the MTN Foundation; a thanksgiving church service on June 21; and the final stage of a national essay competition for students on June 22.
The agency will also host an NGO Day on June 23 to engage civil society organisations, while June 24 will feature a youth-focused outreach programme targeting markets and motor parks across the Federal Capital Territory. The activities will culminate in a grand finale on June 26 at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, where new policy frameworks aimed at addressing emerging drug threats are expected to be unveiled.
Highlighting the agency’s recent achievements, Marwa said the WADA programme, launched in 2021, has evolved into a nationwide movement that encourages public participation in the fight against drug abuse.
He added that NDLEA’s enforcement campaign, known as “Offensive Action,” has led to the dismantling of major drug syndicates, the arrest and prosecution of high-profile traffickers and the confiscation of assets linked to illicit drug activities.
“We are not just arresting traffickers; we are liquidating their financial empires,” he said, noting that the agency is increasingly targeting assets believed to be proceeds of drug crimes under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Marwa expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu, state governments, international partners and local security agencies for their support in combating drug trafficking and abuse.
In his remarks, UNODC Country Representative, Cheikh Ousmane Toure, represented by Deputy Country Representative Danielo Campisi, said the global drug problem continues to evolve and requires coordinated responses from governments, law enforcement agencies, civil society and international partners.
He reaffirmed UNODC’s commitment to supporting Nigeria through evidence-based strategies, innovation, international cooperation and people-centred interventions aimed at protecting communities from the impact of illicit drugs.
Campisi stressed that while drug-related challenges persist, they are not insurmountable, adding that stronger partnerships and sustained action remain key to achieving lasting progress.
