Drug War as Blue Economy Defense: NDLEA Chairman Marwa Links Anti-Narcotics Fight to Unlocking Nigeria's Coastal Wealth

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has sounded a strategic alarm concerning the future of Nigeria's blue economy. Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the agency, has forcefully stated that Nigeria cannot fully realize the immense wealth and economic potential embedded in its coastal and marine resources—its emerging blue economy—unless the country recognizes and addresses the persistent threat of drug trafficking.

Marwa emphasized that the fight against drug trafficking must be viewed not merely as a law enforcement task, but as a critical line of defense essential for securing Nigeria's maritime assets.

He argued that illicit drug activities, often facilitated through maritime routes, undermine security, foster corruption, and destabilize the very environment necessary for sustainable marine resource exploitation.

According to the NDLEA Chairman, a successful and rigorous anti-narcotics campaign is a prerequisite for creating a safe and predictable environment for investment and growth in sectors like shipping, fisheries, deep-sea mining, and coastal tourism.

He asserts that effective drug control is synonymous with maritime security and, ultimately, is the foundational key to unlocking the full economic promise of Nigeria's vast ocean economy.