Nigeria’s drug war at risk as NDLEA faces funding crisis – Group 

The Society for Drug Abuse Enlightenment and Control (SODAEC) has criticised the failure to release capital funds to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in 2025, calling it a serious threat to national security.

In a statement from Kaduna, SODAEC Executive Director Ahmad Umar said the revelation came from proceedings of the National Assembly Joint Committee on Drugs and Narcotics. He described the lack of funding as “a calculated neglect of Nigeria’s frontline defence against narcotics and insecurity.”

Umar highlighted that, despite major successes under Chairman Mohammed Marwa, including large-scale drug seizures and cannabis farm destructions, the NDLEA is severely under-resourced. The agency serves over 200 million Nigerians with fewer than 14,000 personnel, and some state commands operate with as few as three vehicles.

“Dedication and professionalism are evident in these weekly interdictions, but commitment alone cannot replace funding,” Umar said.

He also noted that NDLEA’s work extends beyond drug seizures, as it includes intelligence gathering, financial tracking, and prosecutions. Umar argued the agency deserves funding and welfare provisions at least on par with the Department of State Services and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

“Drug money fuels banditry, terrorism, corruption, and economic crime. Supporting NDLEA strikes at the root of multiple security threats,” he said.

Umar urged an immediate investigation into the blocked 2025 capital allocation and called on both federal and state authorities to ensure the agency receives predictable funding.