The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), has called for increased funding for mental healthcare, particularly for women, children and vulnerable groups, warning that untreated psychological distress can fuel substance abuse and undermine recovery.
Marwa made the call on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, while chairing the fifth edition of The Conversation Conference (TCC 5.0) at Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja. The mental health summit was organised by the Intersect Consortium under the leadership of UK-based consultant psychiatrist, Dr Vincent Udenze.
According to a statement by NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, Marwa urged stakeholders to move beyond awareness campaigns and invest in accessible treatment, preventive healthcare and community-based solutions.
He warned that substance abuse and mental health challenges often reinforce each other, stressing that addressing addiction requires tackling its underlying causes.
“For too long, we treated mental health as a private burden, hidden behind shame and silence. In my work at the NDLEA, I see the cost of that silence daily. Behind many cases of drug abuse is untreated pain: depression nobody noticed, trauma nobody addressed, a young person who found a substance before finding help.
“Drug use and mental illness feed each other. If we only arrest the symptoms, we will keep missing the cause,” he said.
Marwa noted that poverty, hopelessness and untreated psychological distress could worsen substance abuse, making economic empowerment and community support essential components of effective rehabilitation.
To illustrate the importance of community-led interventions, he cited the NDLEA’s pilot programme in three communities in Ondo State, where residents previously dependent on illicit cannabis cultivation were supported to develop legitimate livelihoods.
He said the initiative demonstrated how economic opportunities could help families move away from illegal activities, reduce stress and build more resilient communities.
According to him, the agency plans to expand the model nationwide and is seeking partnerships with organisations and stakeholders willing to support the initiative.
“Your theme speaks of strategic investments, partnerships and community-led action. At the NDLEA, these are not abstract ideas. They are things we have done,” he said.
Marwa also highlighted the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, which focuses on educating young people in schools and communities about the dangers of substance abuse.
He described the NDLEA’s toll-free, round-the-clock helpline as a vital support channel for people experiencing drug-related challenges and families seeking assistance.
The NDLEA chairman disclosed that more than 53,843 people had received rehabilitation services through the agency’s 31 rehabilitation facilities across the country over the past five years.
“Behind that number are fathers returned to their families and young people returned to school and work,” he said.
He called for increased government investment in mental healthcare, including the recruitment of more psychiatrists, psychologists and counsellors, as well as the integration of mental health services into primary healthcare facilities.
Marwa argued that people should not have to travel hundreds of kilometres to access treatment, adding that quality mental healthcare must be affordable and accessible to all Nigerians, regardless of their financial circumstances.
He also stressed the need to prioritise women, children, survivors of violence, displaced mothers, vulnerable girls and persons living with disabilities, noting that these groups are often overlooked by conventional healthcare and social support systems.
According to him, addiction recovery is more sustainable when support extends beyond the individual to include mothers, children and other members of the household.
Marwa called for stronger collaboration among the ministries responsible for health, education, security, justice and social welfare, emphasising that no single institution could address the country’s mental health and substance abuse challenges alone.
He commended the involvement of the Presidency in the conference, noting that Vice President Kashim Shettima was represented at the event by Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, who attended as the Special Guest of Honour.
Marwa urged participants to translate their discussions into measurable action through increased funding, expanded community-based programmes and greater support for vulnerable Nigerians.
“Finance what works, scale proven community models, put women, children and the vulnerable first, and hold one another accountable for results. Let us build a Nigeria where seeking help is an act of courage, where recovery is possible, and where no one suffers alone,” he said.
