Illicit drug shipments can land exporters in jail, tarnish Nigeria’s image

By Adebola Muili

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), has warned aspiring exporters against allowing their businesses to be used for illicit drug trafficking, saying contaminated consignments could cost them their freedom, damage their reputations and tarnish Nigeria’s image internationally.

Marwa gave the warning at a masterclass organised by the Aspire Women Forum at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, where he urged women and young entrepreneurs seeking access to international markets to verify their business partners, know the contents of their shipments and protect the integrity of their trade.

The event, themed “From Survival to Thriving: Empowering Women and Youth for Export Readiness, Global Market Access and Prosperity under the Renewed Hope Agenda,” brought together women and young people to acquire practical business knowledge and explore opportunities for accessing markets, finance and institutional support.

Speaking at the event, Marwa cautioned participants against accepting suspicious business arrangements in pursuit of quick financial gains, stressing that ignorance of the contents of a shipment would not prevent the consequences of being involved in drug trafficking.

“Know exactly what you are shipping. Verify your partners and your transactions. Never carry a package you did not pack, and never let your goods be used for trafficking,” he warned.

According to him, a single consignment contaminated with illicit drugs could expose an exporter to imprisonment, destroy the family’s good name and undermine market opportunities painstakingly developed by the individual and the country.

He said successful participation in international trade required more than the ability to produce goods, noting that integrity, reliable products, compliance with standards, accurate documentation and dependable service were essential to building sustainable export businesses.

The NDLEA chairman also warned participants against substance abuse, describing illicit drugs as a threat capable of undermining personal ambitions, family stability and the ability of young people to build successful businesses.

“Do not let pressure, disappointment, curiosity or the desire to belong draw you into drugs. Drugs solve no business problem and end no hardship; they only multiply them,” he said.

Marwa encouraged anyone struggling with drug dependence to seek professional assistance, assuring them that asking for help was an act of courage rather than a source of shame.

He drew attention to the agency’s toll-free helpline, 0800 1020 3040, which he said operates round the clock and provides access to trained professionals, including clinical psychologists, psychotherapists and psychiatric doctors.

He explained that the service offers assistance in English, Pidgin, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba, urging parents, mentors and community leaders to guide people in need towards treatment rather than isolation.

Marwa commended Aspire Women Forum for bringing together hundreds of women and young people to receive training and establish connections with markets, financial institutions and other organisations capable of supporting their economic advancement.

He also pledged the NDLEA’s readiness to collaborate with the forum through the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy initiative to promote drug awareness and prevention among entrepreneurs and young people.

He urged participants to translate the knowledge acquired at the masterclass into practical steps, including formalising their businesses, improving financial records, strengthening digital skills and preparing their products for wider markets.

Earlier, Vice President Kashim Shettima said Nigeria’s ambition to build a $1 trillion economy depended on expanding productive enterprise, investment, innovation and the ability of citizens to create value.

Shettima, who was represented by the Special Assistant to the President on Humanitarian Affairs and Development Partners, Inna Binta Audu, described the transition from survival to prosperity as both an economic necessity and a national development priority.

He said women and young people must play central roles in the country’s economic growth, noting that their participation could strengthen household incomes, expand productive capacity, generate employment and create opportunities for future generations.

The Vice President stressed that economic inclusion should go beyond training programmes and empowerment announcements to provide entrepreneurs with the tools, institutions and market access required to turn their skills into sustainable income.

He added that the success of the masterclass should be measured by the number of businesses strengthened, entrepreneurs reaching new markets and livelihoods improved through the knowledge acquired.

In her welcome address, the Founder and President of Aspire Women Forum, Dr. Zainab Marwa, called for increased participation by small businesses, women-owned enterprises and young innovators in the programme, stressing the need to make empowerment initiatives practical and accessible to those who needed them.

She urged participating institutions to explain their programmes in simple language, clearly state eligibility requirements and maintain engagement with beneficiaries beyond the event.

According to her, opportunities would remain difficult to access if prospective beneficiaries did not understand the requirements and processes involved.

Dr. Marwa observed that many Nigerians worked tirelessly in farming, food processing, trading and service delivery but struggled to achieve better financial outcomes because of gaps in skills, information and access to opportunities.

She said their efforts deserved recognition as well as the practical support needed to improve productivity and build sustainable livelihoods.

The Aspire Women Forum founder also stressed that personal well-being and economic prosperity were inseparable, warning that substance abuse threatened individual welfare, family stability and the productive capacity of communities.

She called for prevention, early intervention and access to appropriate support for people experiencing drug-related challenges, describing these measures as essential components of investment in human capital.

Advising participants to remain focused on their individual journeys, Dr. Marwa urged them to develop their competence, honour commitments and continue learning rather than compare their progress with the achievements of others or resort to shortcuts.

She said the forum remained committed to supporting beneficiaries beyond the masterclass through mentoring, referrals, continued communication and further learning opportunities.

Dr. Marwa commended the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu for its efforts to promote enterprise and economic inclusion through the Renewed Hope Agenda, including financing interventions for small businesses through the Bank of Industry and initiatives supporting skills development and digital enterprise.

She explained that the programme was designed to help participants understand how to access available opportunities and address practical challenges such as poor record-keeping, lack of business registration, unsuitable financing, inadequate packaging and limited access to buyers.

She added that the forum deliberately included young men alongside women and young women because economic uncertainty affects entire households.

The founder expressed appreciation to Vice President Shettima for the support of his office, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and the Founder of Women in Agribusiness, Trade and Export (WATEX), Dr. Queen Onyinye Okpa, among other supporters of the initiative.