On Friday, President Bola Tinubu renewed Marwa’s appointment
as NDLEA chairman by another five years, which will end in 2031.

Marwa, a former military governor of Lagos, was first
appointed to the position by the late ex-President Muhammadu Buhari in January
2021, after serving as the chairman of the presidential advisory committee for
the elimination of drug abuse from 2018 to 2020.

In a statement released on Sunday, Femi Babafemi, NDLEA
spokesperson, said officials of the agency gathered at the agency’s national
headquarters in Abuja to welcome Marwa following his reappointment.

Babafemi said Marwa commended Tinubu, Lateef Fagbemi,
attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice, and Wale
Edun, minister of finance, for their support.

He said the NDLEA boss warned those engaging in illicit drug
trafficking to desist from the criminal business and embrace legitimate
enterprise.

“First of all, what a surprise; I did not expect to come
back from the Jumat service to meet these great felicitations, dancing and
singing by our personnel,” the statement reads.

“First, this word must go to the cartels. The cartels have
not seen anything yet. I promise them this second tenure is going to be hell
and bleak for them. Drugs shall not pass in or out of or within Nigeria.

“At the same time, I must appeal to those who are engaged in
illicit drug trafficking that this is the right time for them to drop that
criminal business and face something legitimate.

“It is in line with that that we established the Alternative
Development Unit, which seeks to persuade those who are perpetrating the
illicit drug activities, particularly cannabis growers, who are our greatest
challenge in Nigeria, to desist from the habit, collaborate with us.”