The African Union (AU) commission says the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is central to the ongoing review and future formulation of Africa’s drug control and crime prevention strategy.
A three-member delegation led by Olubusayo Akinola, the commission’s head of social welfare, drug control and crime prevention, spoke on Monday during an assessment visit to the agency’s national headquarters in Abuja.
Other members of the delegation include Abiola Olaleye, senior drug epidemiology and research officer, and Johan Strijdom, senior drug control consultant.
According to Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, the visit was to evaluate the AU plan of action on drug control and crime prevention (2019-2025).
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Speaking, Akinola said the AU commission was re-evaluating and starting another continental action plan from 2026 to 2030.
“We’re here to understand the status of implementation of this continental action plan on drug control and crime prevention,” he said.
“So, we have identified a few countries to understand how this action plan was actually implemented in the member states. And if there are gaps, and the new and current emerging trends that we can include.
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“So, we understand very well the work of NDLEA and we believe that the formulation of the new action plan will not be finalized and concluded until we have inputs from NDLEA Nigeria, because you are basically on the forefront when it comes to law enforcement on the entire continent.”
The AU commission commended the NDLEA for its sustained provision of critical and policy-relevant data, which has significantly informed and shaped the commission’s work over the years.
Welcoming the delegation, Buba Marwa, NDLEA chairman, emphasised the importance of the mission, saying he considered it imperative to receive the team personally due to the strategic relevance of their engagement.
Marwa highlighted the urgency of addressing the continent’s growing drug challenge, adding that while global projections estimate a 10–11 percent rise in drug use prevalence, Africa is expected to experience a surge of up to 40 percent.
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“We are particularly pleased that the African Union is giving due weight to the implementation of the continental action plan, not merely as a theoretical exercise, but by undertaking direct field consultations with national counterparts,” he said.
“This grounded, evidence-informed approach will undoubtedly result in a more pragmatic and responsive framework for implementation.
“This disparity signals a looming crisis that demands coordinated and accelerated action. We deeply appreciate the AU’s leadership in this space and commend your proactive efforts.”
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