Marwa made the call on Thursday during the official commissioning of the agency’s radio station, Clean Beat 91.5FM, in Abuja, where he said the media platform would serve as a powerful tool in the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign.
According to the former military administrator, the growing influence of music, entertainment, social media trends and popular culture has contributed to the normalisation of drug abuse among Nigerian youths, making prevention and public education more critical than ever.
“We recognize that behind every statistic of drug abuse is a human being. A vulnerable teenager seeking escape; a broken family searching for answers; a brilliant mind derailed but capable of redirection,” Marwa said.
“Through this station, we will drive our narrative softly but firmly. We will counter the toxic pop-culture that glamourizes drug abuse by replacing it with a vibrant, alternative culture—one that celebrates sobriety, showcases real stories of recovery, and provides accurate, life-saving information.”
The NDLEA boss warned that the consequences of unchecked substance abuse could become devastating for Nigeria’s future if urgent measures are not taken to reshape public attitudes.
“Let us make no mistake: the stakes could not be higher. If we do not control the narrative today, the consequences tomorrow will be catastrophic,” he said.
“Substance abuse is a hydra-headed monster that feeds insecurity, decimates public health, cripples economic productivity, and compromises the very future of our workforce.”
Marwa explained that while the agency remained committed to arrests, prosecutions and dismantling drug syndicates, long-term victory against drug abuse would only come through prevention, education and sustained advocacy.
“With the benefit of hindsight, I have always maintained that while enforcement wins battles, education and prevention win wars,” he stated.
“True victory against the scourge of substance abuse cannot be achieved solely by the cold steel of handcuffs or the iron bars of a prison cell. It is won when we dismantle the demand.”
He described Clean Beat 91.5FM as a “beacon of hope” designed to take anti-drug messages directly into homes, schools, markets and communities across Nigeria.
The NDLEA chairman also thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving funding for the radio station, while acknowledging the support of the National Security Adviser, the National Broadcasting Commission and international development partners.
“To all Nigerians, and most especially to our vibrant youth: this station is yours,” Marwa said.
“Let us rewrite the story of our generation; let us guard the health of our nation; and let us protect the rhythm of our future. Together, ladies and gentlemen, let us keep the beat clean.”
The launch drew commendations from local and international stakeholders, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the National Broadcasting Commission and the National Orientation Agency.
UNODC Country Representative Cheikh Ousmane Touré, represented by Dr. Akanidomo Ibanga, praised the initiative as an innovative and people-centred approach to drug control.
“Through this platform, NDLEA is taking the drug control message directly to the people — into homes, communities, schools, and streets,” he said.
Director-General of the NBC, Charles Ebuebu, also described the station as more than just another media outlet, saying it represented “the strategic deployment of broadcasting as an instrument of national orientation, behavioural change, youth engagement and social transformation.”
Ebuebu added that the battle against substance abuse should be treated as a national development priority rather than merely a law enforcement issue.
