Alaafin of Oyo Pledges Support for NDLEA’s Anti-Drug Campaign

By Oluwakemi Kindness

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, has assured the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), of full support and collaboration in his renewed mandate to curb substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking across the country.

The traditional ruler gave the assurance during a courtesy visit to the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja on Friday, 12th December 2025.

He was accompanied by the Oloro of Oro, Oba Joel Olaniyan Olatoye, and the Olusin of Ijara Isin, Oba Ademola Julius Ajibola.

According to s statement by the NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, Oba Owoade said he is proud of Marwa’s trajectory as Atunluse of Yorubaland.

According to him:

“To be kind with you, we are proud of you. Your being in this position at the moment is not just by chance, it’s because of your devotion, your commitment. You have this amiable character. That’s why you are able to govern Borno and Lagos State, and you have always been a performer. Another thing which I can’t forget about you is the legacy of Keke Marwa that you brought to Nigeria.”

Responding to Marwa’s call for support from traditional rulers, the Alaafin pledged readiness to mobilise his colleagues to work with the Agency.

“I’ve heard your message and the same thing with some of my colleagues here and some of my other traditional rulers, we are ready to collaborate with you. We are at the grassroots, we are close to the community people. We know a lot about what’s going on. We are more than ready to work with you and to give you all the necessary support to make sure that you are successful in this job. Anytime you are in need of us, we will always be there for you,” he said.

In his welcome remarks, Marwa congratulated the Alaafin on ascending the throne of his forefathers and urged traditional rulers across the country to use their local influence to help stamp out substance abuse.

He noted that “the drug scourge in Nigeria is at an unacceptable limit,” citing the 2018 drug use survey report which showed that close to 15 million Nigerians aged 15 to 64 use drugs.

“We have been mandated by President Tinubu to stand up, fight the drug scourge, arrest those responsible, prosecute them and seize their assets, the traffickers. And on this assignment, we would like to call on the traditional institutions because it’s a very, very important institution.”

Marwa added that Nigerians respect traditional rulers, and their voices carry weight. He urged them to also engage religious leaders in their communities to promote strong anti-drug advocacy.

“The NDLEA is always prepared to work with the traditional institution,” he said.

He appealed for community-level intelligence from traditional rulers to help identify drug dealers who endanger young people and families.

“If we are able to control drug use, even the criminalities will come down because all the people that are kidnappers and the insurgents, terrorists, bandits everywhere, they use drugs first to charge themselves up, to make them high,” he added.

Marwa thanked the Alaafin for the visit and wished him a long and successful reign marked by peace, development and prosperity in Oyo Kingdom.