Written by
Ishioma Appiah-Yeboah
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA),Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has called on Nigerians to reject the growing pop culture trend that glamorizes drug abuse, especially among young people.
Marwa made the appeal on Thursday during the commissioning of the NDLEA’s radio station, Clean Beat 91.5FM, in Abuja. He described the station as a strategic platform designed to educate, inspire, and strengthen the fight against substance abuse in Nigeria.
According to him, drug abuse is not just a law enforcement issue but a social crisis affecting families, communities, and the nation’s future workforce.
“We will counter the toxic pop culture that glamorizes drug abuse by promoting a positive alternative culture that celebrates sobriety, recovery, and informed choices,” he said.
The NDLEA boss warned that failing to confront the normalization of illicit drug use could worsen insecurity, public health challenges, and economic decline.
He stressed that while arrests and prosecutions remain important, long-term success in the anti-drug war depends heavily on prevention, education, and public enlightenment.
Marwa described Clean Beat 91.5FM as “a voice of hope” that will take anti-drug messages directly to Nigerians in homes, schools, markets, and communities.
He also appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the station’s budget, alongside support from the National Security Adviser, the National Broadcasting Commission, and international partners.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC, commended the initiative, describing the station as an innovative tool for advocacy and public engagement.
Similarly, the Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission, Charles Ebuebu, said the station would serve as a platform for youth engagement, behavioural change, and national development.
The National Orientation Agency also praised the project, saying it would help promote positive values and citizen reorientation across the country.
Clean Beat 91.5FM is part of the NDLEA’s broader War Against Drug Abuse campaign aimed at reducing substance abuse and protecting young Nigerians from addiction.