The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), has warned that Nigeria risks a deepening social crisis if citizens fail to confront the growing pop culture that glamorises drug abuse among young people.
Marwa issued the warning on Thursday in Abuja during the official commissioning of the agency’s radio station, Clean Beat 91.5FM, a platform designed to strengthen nationwide advocacy, public education and behavioural reorientation against substance abuse.
The NDLEA boss said the increasing normalisation of illicit drug use in entertainment, social media spaces and youth culture poses a serious threat to national security, public health and the future productivity of the country.
Speaking at the event, Marwa said the agency was determined not only to arrest traffickers and dismantle criminal networks but also to confront the dangerous narratives encouraging substance abuse among youths.
According to him, the new radio station would serve as a strategic communication platform to counter harmful cultural messages by promoting sobriety, recovery and responsible living.
“We recognise that behind every statistic of drug abuse is a human being. A vulnerable teenager seeking escape; a broken family searching for answers; a brilliant mind derailed but capable of redirection,” he said.
Marwa stressed that the consequences of failing to tackle the problem could be catastrophic, warning that substance abuse fuels insecurity, destroys public health, weakens economic productivity and threatens the nation’s workforce.
He said the launch of the radio station reflects a shift in strategy by the agency toward prevention, awareness and long-term behavioural change.
Education and prevention win wars
The NDLEA chairman noted that years of anti-drug enforcement operations had shown that arrests and prosecutions alone cannot permanently solve the country’s drug crisis.
According to him, sustainable victory can only be achieved through education, prevention and public enlightenment targeted especially at young Nigerians.
“With the benefit of hindsight, I have always maintained that while enforcement wins battles, education and prevention win wars,” Marwa stated.
He explained that radio remains one of the most effective communication tools in Nigeria because of its ability to reach people directly in homes, markets, workplaces and rural communities.
“True victory against substance abuse cannot be achieved solely by the cold steel of handcuffs or the iron bars of a prison cell. It is won when we dismantle the demand,” he added.
Marwa described Clean Beat 91.5FM as more than just a radio station, saying it represents “a powerful, relentless voice” for national reorientation and youth protection.
He urged young Nigerians to embrace the station as a platform for engagement, awareness and positive social change.
“To all Nigerians, and most especially to our vibrant youth: this station is yours. Tune in, engage with our programmes, challenge yourselves, and become ambassadors of this movement,” he said.
The NDLEA boss also acknowledged the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Security Adviser, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), international partners and NDLEA personnel for helping to actualise the project.
The initiative received commendation from key national and international stakeholders, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), and the National Orientation Agency (NOA).
Representing the United Nations Country Representative, Mr Cheikh Ousmane Touré, Dr Akanidomo Ibanga described the station as an innovative and people-centred approach to drug control advocacy.
He said the platform aligns with Nigeria’s National Drug Control Master Plan and strengthens efforts toward a balanced, health-orientated and security-conscious response to substance abuse.
According to him, the station would take anti-drug messages directly into homes, schools and communities across the country.
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The Director-General of the NBC, Mr Charles Ebuebu, praised the NDLEA leadership for deploying broadcasting as a strategic tool for behavioural change and youth engagement.
He noted that Nigeria’s youthful population makes the fight against drug abuse a critical national development priority.
“The establishment of Clean Beat 91.5 FM represents far more than the launch of another radio station. It represents the strategic deployment of broadcasting as an instrument of national orientation, behavioural change, youth engagement and social transformation,” he said.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, represented by Mr Bala Musa, described the initiative as a major step toward strengthening positive values and citizens’ reorientation.
He said the station would help deepen public awareness and encourage attitudinal change among Nigerians, particularly the youth population.
The launch of Clean Beat 91.5FM comes amid growing concerns over rising substance abuse, especially among young Nigerians, as authorities continue to battle drug trafficking networks and increasing addiction rates.
Analysts say the NDLEA’s decision to establish a dedicated advocacy radio platform signals a broader shift from conventional enforcement to a more preventive and communication-driven anti-drug strategy.
With music, social media and celebrity culture increasingly influencing youth behaviour, the agency appears determined to reclaim the narrative before drug abuse becomes further embedded in mainstream culture.
As Nigeria grapples with rising substance abuse and its social consequences, the NDLEA’s latest initiative underscores the growing recognition that the battle against drugs will not be won through arrests alone.
Beyond law enforcement, authorities are now pushing for a cultural and psychological shift — one aimed at redefining what young Nigerians celebrate, consume and ultimately accept as normal.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.