From Adeko Ukpa, Abuja

Barely two months to the end of his tenure, Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), is reportedly intensifying efforts to secure a second five-year term as pressure mounts from at least five contenders eyeing his position.

Marwa, 72, was appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari on January 17, 2021, and has since led a renewed campaign against drug trafficking and abuse across the country.

However, multiple security sources confirmed that internal lobbying has begun within the Presidency and security circles over who will lead the NDLEA next.

“Marwa’s tenure will end in about two months, and stakeholders are divided on whether he should get a second term,” a senior security official told The PUNCH.

“At least five people, including retired military and police officers, lawyers, and former security chiefs, are showing interest. They argue that his age and the President’s reform agenda justify a change.”

Reform Agenda and Resistance

Some officials believe President Bola Tinubu’s ongoing reforms in the justice sector may influence the decision.

Sources said the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), is driving a restructuring plan that could affect the NDLEA’s leadership.

“Among agencies in the justice sector, only the NDLEA has not undergone restructuring,” another insider said, adding that Tinubu’s administration is prioritising efficiency, human rights, and accountability across law enforcement bodies.

Critics of Marwa within government circles have reportedly suggested that he be reassigned to an ambassadorial role. They cited age, bureaucratic bottlenecks, and slow prosecution rates as key concerns.

“Despite his high-profile arrests, the NDLEA bureaucracy remains sluggish. He is seen as a lone ranger who has done well but needs stronger institutional support,” a senior agency source said.

Marwa’s Record and Defence

Under Marwa’s leadership, the NDLEA reportedly arrested 31,675 drug suspects and secured 5,147 convictions between 2021 and 2024.

The agency also seized more than 6,000 tonnes of illicit substances, including cocaine, tramadol, and methamphetamine, and dismantled several drug cartels operating in Lagos, Kano, Abuja, Edo, and Rivers states.

A 2022 raid in Ikorodu, Lagos, led to the discovery of a 1.8-tonne cocaine warehouse, one of the largest seizures in Nigeria’s history.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) later commended the NDLEA for its enhanced enforcement drive under Marwa’s watch.

But some experts believe the agency has focused too much on small-scale offenders.

Retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Wilson Inalegwu, said: “We need to go after the producers and distributors, not just the street vendors. Until we tackle the drug barons, we’re merely scratching the surface.”

He also called for stronger advocacy campaigns to prevent youth involvement in drug abuse and trafficking.

Presidency Connection and Lobby Efforts

Marwa’s recent visit to the Presidential Villa was seen by insiders as part of a wider lobbying effort to retain his position.

“He believes his long-standing relationship with President Tinubu, dating back to 1999 when he handed over to Tinubu as Lagos governor, could work in his favour,” one government source disclosed.

As the clock winds down on his first term, the NDLEA chief faces a delicate balancing act, defending his record while navigating a growing power tussle over the leadership of one of Nigeria’s most strategic security agencies.

Credit: The Punch

Adeko Ukpa, Abuja

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately sack the nation’s security chiefs following the unabated killings of Nigerians across the country.

Frank, in a statement in Abuja, in reaction to the fresh killing of soldiers in Borno state by suspected Boko Haram insurgents, expressed deep concern over the rising wave of insecurity, banditry, and kidnappings, describing the situation as a national tragedy that requires urgent executive action.

According to Frank, Nigerians are being killed “like chickens” daily across the North, South, East, and West, a clear indication that the country’s security architecture has collapsed under the current leadership.

“Our soldiers and policemen are dying in large numbers due to poor funding and lack of proper equipment. Despite massive budgetary allocations to the security sector, the funds do not reach the men and women on the front lines, nor are they used to purchase the right equipment needed to combat insecurity,” the statement read.

Frank stated that the continuous killings have attracted international attention and commended U.S. President Donald Trump and Senator Ted Cruz, for their advocacy on behalf of Nigerians, especially their condemnation of the incessant killing of Nigerians in parts of the country.

“We commend President Donald Trump for his concern and moral courage in speaking against the killings of Nigerians. We equally commend Senator Ted Cruz for lending his voice to these injustices. Their actions have helped to break the silence of our political class, especially those in the ruling party,” the statement added.

Frank who is the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, also urged the United States government, under the leadership of President Trump and other international partners, to intensify pressure on the Nigerian government to release the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

“This administration cannot continue to negotiate with terrorists while detaining innocent and peaceful Nigerians. We therefore call on the international community, especially the U.S. government, to intervene and pressurise President Tinubu to release Nnamdi Kanu immediately,” he said.

Thumps Up for Trump, Senator Ted Cruz

The statement further commended President Trump for his leadership in facilitating negotiations for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza, urging him to “show the same compassion and leadership” by lending his voice to the call for Nnamdi Kanu’s release.

He also lauded activist Omoyele Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), for boldly leading the call for Kanu’s unconditional release from detention.

Nigeria’s Bilateral Relations with U.S.

On Nigeria–U.S. relations, Frank emphasised the importance of preserving the historic friendship between both nations.

“Nigeria has always maintained a cordial relationship with the United States. We will not allow any government or individuals to destroy that friendship. As Nigerians, we remain committed to strengthening our ties with the U.S. in the interest of peace, democracy, and global security,” he said.

Scores Nigerian Senate  Low

He lambasted the Nigerian Senate for criticising Ted Cruz over his comments about killing of innocent Nigerians describing them a as a “disgrace and disappointment.”

“If the Senate and by extension the National Assembly had faithfully and diligently carried out their constitutional mandate of oversight and representation in checkmating executive recklessness like the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu and getting the security chiefs to act in protecting the lives and property of Nigerians, Senator Ted Cruz would not have picked on Nigeria as a good example of unwarranted attacks,
killings and intimidation of innocent citizens by deadly gangs.

“Look at how they took their time to respond to Senator Ted Cruz’s comments, while they failed over the years to stand for justice by calling for the release of Nnamdi Kanu or to ensure through their oversight powers that the security chiefs live up to their mandate to protect defenceless Nigerians from horrific attacks and killings,” he said.

END

By Adeko Ukpa, Abuja

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has strongly condemned the assassination of American conservative activist Charlie Kirk, describing it as a painful and irreparable loss to the global youth movement and the democratic community at large.

In a statement released on Monday in Abuja, Frank said: “Charlie Kirk’s assassination is a big loss to this generation – not just to the United States of America, but to young people all over the world. At only 31, he had already begun to shape political discourse beyond America’s borders.

“Kirk was a rising star, a passionate patriot, and a man whose love for God, country, and humanity was evident in everything he stood for.”

Frank, who is the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, called on Governor Spencer Cox of Utah and the United States Government to ensure a thorough investigation into the incident.

“It is important that justice is served swiftly and decisively, not only to bring closure to his family and supporters but also to send a strong message that such cowardly acts of violence have no place in any democratic society.

“I commend both the U.S. Government and the Government of the State of Utah for the progress made so far in the investigations and for keeping the public duly informed,” he said.

Frank further described Kirk as a role model whose life embodied the ideals of democracy.

“Charlie Kirk represented the truth that young people are indeed the future of politics and governance. While many may not have agreed with all his political opinions, there is no doubt that he lived for what he believed in – freedom of speech, freedom of association, and the pursuit of democratic ideals. His life and work will remain a source of inspiration to generations of young leaders worldwide,” he added.

Expressing his deepest condolences, Frank said:
“I commiserate with the Kirk family, his followers, and supporters both in the United States and across the world. I also extend my heartfelt condolences to the Government and people of the United States and to President Donald Trump.

“May Charlie Kirk’s gentle soul rest in perfect peace with our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.”
He concluded with a call for unity and reflection: “Let Charlie Kirk’s life remind us all that no matter our political differences, violence and the taking of human life remain cowardly acts that run contrary to the ideals of democracy and humanity.

“May his teachings and his example continue to inspire a world where dialogue, freedom, and respect for differing opinions thrive.”