Retired Brigadier Mohammed Buba Marwa is the new chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
He was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari to replace Col. Muhammad Abdallah, whose tenure ended on January 11.
Marwa, an All Progressives Congemress (APC) chieftain from Adamawa, was the former military administrator of Lagos State from 1996 to 1999, where he made an impressive mark.
He also served as administrator in Borno between 1990 and 1992.
Before his appointment, he was Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee For The Elimination Of Drug Abuse.
In a report submitted to President Buhari in March, Marwa urged for the declaration of emergency on drug abuse.
His recommendation was anchored on the high prevalence of drug abuse in Nigeria, where an estimated 10.6 million were said to be hooked on cannabis, for example.
“It was found that whereas the global prevalence was 5.6%, in the case of Nigeria, within the ages of 15 and 64 the prevalence was almost triple at 14.4%, which actually translates to 14.3 million Nigerians. We also found that 1 in 4 drug abusers in Nigeria is a woman,” he said.
