The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has relocated its headquarters to a newly developed facility in the Jahi district of Abuja.
The first phase of the NDLEA’s new headquarters project in Jahi is expected to be completed with funding from the 2025 budget. The facility was officially inaugurated on Wednesday during an interdenominational service.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Marwa (Retired), described the relocation as a pivotal step in the agency’s ongoing transformation into a modern, effective anti-narcotics organisation—a process that began in January 2021.
“I’m pleased we have finally moved into this facility despite initial budgetary constraints. Although this is only the first phase of the new headquarters project, we are optimistic that we will complete the remaining phases with next year’s budget,” he said.
“This is not 100% complete, but it is sufficiently functional for us to occupy, as I was determined to make the move before the end of 2024. With the agency’s expansion, our headquarters needed to grow as well. At our previous location, we could not accommodate everyone, and I had to reassign dozens of officers due to a lack of workspace.”
“For this reason, the management unanimously decided that, although the facility is not yet fully completed, we should proceed with a low-key inauguration ceremony. This allows us to consolidate some of our directorates still operating outside Abuja into a single facility, improving efficiency, effectiveness, and seamless coordination,” Marwa added.
The NDLEA Chairman/CEO expressed his gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his unwavering support, which has been instrumental in the agency’s progress in combating drug abuse and trafficking. While confirming that the former headquarters in Garki will continue to operate as an annex, Marwa emphasised that the new facility in Jahi marks a significant milestone for the NDLEA.
“The support we are receiving from our international partners, local stakeholders, particularly President Tinubu, the National Assembly, the judiciary, and the general public, not only recognises our efforts but also inspires us to achieve more. I believe this new work environment will motivate us to surpass previous accomplishments,” Marwa said to an enthusiastic gathering of senior staff, officers, and personnel at the event.
He also acknowledged his predecessor for initiating the process of securing a suitable headquarters for the agency.
In his welcome address, NDLEA Secretary Shadrach Haruna praised Marwa’s visionary leadership, which has transformed the agency into a globally recognised and highly effective anti-narcotics organisation within just three years.
He remarked, “Today’s commissioning of our headquarters is part of the chairman’s incremental but strategic agenda to reposition the agency. Since 2021, we have witnessed monumental achievements, including increasing the agency’s workforce from 5,000 to 15,000. Other milestones include the promotion of officers, the opening of recruitment opportunities, the payment of outstanding allowances to staff and the widows of fallen officers, the recent amendment of the agency’s enabling law by the National Assembly, and much more.”
