By Collins Yakubu-Hammer

The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa said the agency  seized 1.3 billion pills of Tramadol and 4.4 million bottles of Codeine between January 2024 and June 2025.

Marwa made the disclosure during a plenary session at the two-day interactive Session on Government-citizens’ Engagement on Tuesday in Kaduna.

“Between January 2024 and June 2025, we have seized over 4.4 million bottles of codeine.

“We also seized 1.3 billion tablets of opium also known as tramadol.

“A pill of Taramadol is now N1000.  The street value of one billion pills can be close to one trillion naira.

“Imagine the kind of weapons terrorist or bandits can buy with that amount of money or imagine one billion pills of tramadol in circulation, “he stated.

According to Marwa, since Tinubu came into office in 2023, the agency has made seizures of 5,555 tonnes of illicit drugs equivalent of 200 trailers.

He said that the effect of 200 trailers of illegal substances on our streets is only imaginable.

“Also,we arrested 2000 drug traffickers, convicted 8,682 and rehabilitated over 24,000.

“We also go on advocacy to motor parks, schools, churches, mosques, markets, etc to raise awareness about dangers of drugs and substance abuse. All these was possible with support from Tinubu.”

On counselling and rehabilitation, the NDLEA boss explained that Tinubu had approved the building of seven rehabilitation centres, in addition to the existing 30, for the agency.

“This means every state in the country will have one. Also, the President has approved one modern rehabilitation centre for each geopolitical zones of the country and we hope to start this year.”

He said that the Renewed Hope Agenda of the president was fully on track and would help to address the issues of drug and substance abuse.

“This is because, it is packed with programmes and policies that will address idleness, poverty and unemployment.

“We also want to commend the governments of Kwara and Kaduna for their proactive and pragmatic efforts in addressing drug and substance abuse in their states. We want other states to follow suit.

“Also, families should not wait for Tinubu to solve all the problems of drug abuse and NDLEA, hold your societies and it starts with parenting, and from the family.

“We want drug and substance abuse to be included in the curriculum of primary schools in the country. Communities, traditional rulers, Churches and Mosques should get involved in the fight against drug abuse,” Marwa said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani