NDLEA Boss: We Seized Over 1 Billion Tramadol Pills in 18 Months – Here’s Why It Matters

The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd.), has revealed that the agency seized an alarming 1.3 billion pills of Tramadol and 4.4 million bottles of Codeine between January 2024 and June 2025.

Speaking during a government-citizen engagement session held in Kaduna, Marwa said the seizures are part of intensified efforts to combat drug abuse and trafficking across Nigeria.

“A pill of Tramadol now goes for ₦1,000. So, 1.3 billion pills could be worth nearly one trillion naira on the street,” he noted, adding that such massive profits could easily fund terrorism and banditry if left unchecked.

Marwa attributed the NDLEA’s achievements to the support from President Bola Tinubu, who he said has shown strong political will in the fight against drug abuse.

Massive Seizures, Arrests, and Reforms

According to the NDLEA boss, since President Tinubu assumed office in 2023, the agency has:

Seized 5,555 tonnes of various illicit drugs — the equivalent of 200 trailer loads

Arrested over 2,000 drug traffickers

Secured 8,682 convictions

Rehabilitated over 24,000 drug users

Marwa also emphasized the agency’s grassroots advocacy efforts, which include outreach to motor parks, markets, schools, churches, mosques, and communities across the country.

New Rehabilitation Centres Coming

In a move to strengthen drug recovery services, the President has approved the construction of seven new rehabilitation centres. This brings the total number of NDLEA-run centres to 37—one in each state. In addition, a modern rehab facility will be built in each of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

Marwa described this expansion as a significant step under the Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at tackling the root causes of drug abuse such as poverty, unemployment, and idleness.

Call to Action: It Starts with the Family

While applauding state governments like Kwara and Kaduna for their proactive response to the drug menace, Marwa stressed that families and communities must also play their part.

“Don’t wait for Tinubu or NDLEA to solve everything. It starts at home—with parenting, with family,” he said.

He further called for drug education to be introduced in primary school curriculums, and urged religious and traditional leaders to join the fight against drug abuse.

With drugs like Tramadol and Codeine being abused by both the young and old, the NDLEA’s recent numbers are both a warning and a call to action. The message is clear: Nigeria must act now—before addiction becomes the norm.