The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has officially moved its headquarters to a new facility in the Jahi area of Abuja, marking a significant milestone in the agency’s growth and operations.
The first phase of the headquarters project was inaugurated on Wednesday during an interdenominational service.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (retd.), emphasized that while the building is not fully completed, it is functional enough to support the agency’s activities.
“We are pleased to finally relocate to this facility despite the initial budgetary constraints. Although the headquarters is not 100% complete, it meets our current needs and allows us to consolidate operations under one roof. With next year’s budget, we aim to finish the project entirely,” Marwa said.
He explained that the move was necessitated by the agency’s growth, noting that the previous location in the Gimbiya area of Garki could no longer accommodate all personnel.
“Due to limited space at the old headquarters, we had to post several officers elsewhere. This new facility provides an opportunity to centralize our operations for greater efficiency and coordination,” Marwa added.
He expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and other stakeholders for their unwavering support, which has strengthened the agency’s ability to combat drug abuse and trafficking.
Marwa said, “The support from President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly, the judiciary, and other partners is not only a recognition of our work but also a motivation to achieve more. I trust this new environment will inspire our team to surpass previous accomplishments.”
The NDLEA Secretary, Shadrach Haruna, commended Marwa’s leadership, highlighting significant achievements under his tenure since 2021.
Haruna said, “Under the chairman’s leadership, we have seen monumental changes, including the increase of staff from 5,000 to 15,000, the promotion of officers, payment of outstanding allowances, and the recent amendment of the NDLEA Act. Today’s commissioning is a testament to this strategic repositioning.”
While the new headquarters will now serve as the main operational hub, the old facility in Garki will function as an annex. Prayers for the nation and President Tinubu were offered during the event, and a commemorative plaque was unveiled to mark the occasion.
