Why Marwa Remains My Leading Adamawa Son In Nigeria’s Leadership

Why Marwa Remains My Leading Adamawa Son In Nigeria’s Leadership

By Sini Joseph Kwaji

Show me an Adamawa‑born leader who initiated a project like ‘’Keke Marwa’’ that became a household name across Nigeria. Show me an Adamawa son whose performance and loyalty were so trusted that he was called upon to govern not one, but two states, leaving behind legacies of reform and innovation.

Show me an Adamawa son who was appointed to head a critical national agency, whose name remains constantly in the news for achievements that reshape Nigeria’s fight against drugs abuse, and who has been trusted by two presidents consecutively for his outstanding service, and I will show you Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) CON, OFR, my leading Adamawa son in Nigeria’s leadership today.

Marwa’s career began in the Nigerian Army, where he rose to the rank of Brigadier General and served in critical roles including Brigade Major of the 23 Armoured Brigade, Aide‑de‑Camp to the Chief of Army Staff, and Deputy Defence Adviser at Nigeria’s Embassy in Washington, D.C. His leadership extended into governance, first as Military Governor of Borno State between 1990 and 1992, and later as Governor of Lagos State from 1996 to 1999.

In Borno, Marwa’s practical development includes roads, improved public facilities, building and rehabilitating schools and introduction of teacher training programs, strengthening hospitals and rural clinics, supporting agriculture through extension services and community projects. He also provided solid funds and scholarships to Adamawa undergraduates students.

His tenure in Lagos was even more transformative. Beyond the famous “Keke Marwa” tricycles that revolutionized urban transport, he launched Operation 250 Roads, a massive rehabilitation program that improved driving conditions across the state. He remodelled public health facilities, introduced free malaria treatment, and improved refuse management to tackle the chronic sanitation problems in Lagos.

He provided educational opportunities through scholarships and school infrastructure upgrades, while his celebrated Operation Sweep drastically reduced crime and restored public confidence in security.

As chairman of Nigeria’s Presidential Committee for the Elimination of Drug Abuse (PACEDA), Marwa initiated reforms and strategies, laying the foundation for Nigeria’s modern anti-drug policies. His current role as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), which he assumed in January 2021 under late President Muhammadu Buhari, has been equally groundbreaking.

Under his leadership, the NDLEA recorded Nigeria’s largest‑ever cocaine seizure in September 2022, when 1,855 kilograms of cocaine valued at over $278 million were intercepted in Lagos, dismantling an international cartel. The agency has consistently broken records in arrests and seizures, intercepting thousands of kilograms of narcotics and dismantling trafficking networks nationwide.

He has expanded rehabilitation and counselling programs, ensuring thousands of drug users receive treatment and reintegration support. He prioritized officer welfare by addressing stagnation in promotions, improving welfare packages, and initiating the construction of new barracks and a modern headquarters. His reforms include the transition to digital visa clearance systems, establishing new directorates to boost efficiency and many others, while his push for international cooperation has strengthened Nigeria’s ties with agencies such as the U.S. DEA , UK NCA, UNODC and others.

At the grassroots level, he launched the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative, mobilizing schools, religious institutions, community leaders, and stakeholders to spread awareness nationwide.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to renew Marwa’s tenure, making him one of the few Buhari‑era appointees retained is a clear testament to his outstanding performance.

For me, these achievements confirm why Gen. Buba Marwa remains my leading Adamawa son in Nigeria’s leadership today. His journey from a soldier to a reformer reflects the resilience and excellence of our people, and he firmly stands among the topmost leaders in Nigeria’s national landscape, a trailblazer whose legacy will continue to inspire us.

Sini Joseph Kwaji writes from Jimeta, Adamawa State.

He can be reached on: Josephsini760@gmail.com