LIFE: Buba Marwa, The NDLEA Boss Dealing With Nigerian Drug Lords

Aside from been remembered for the introduction of the yellow rickshaws, popularly known as  Keke Marwa in Lagos State, Buba Marwa is topping Twitter trend in Nigeria again. 

He is being commended for his successes in dealing with drug lords in Nigeria.

Mohamed Buba Marwa is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), appointed in March 2020 by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Since the Adamawa-born retired military boss and astute politician left office as Nigeria High Commissioner to South Africa, his last major position as appointed by late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, many failed to reckon with him.

Marwa became a household name when he became a military governor of Lagos State between 1996 to 1999.

He initiated several people-oriented policies, one of which is the launching of tricycles for commercial transportation in Lagos — now popularly known as Keke Marwa.

He took then “area boys” off the streets by engaging them in a direct labour programme for massive road rehabilitation in Lagos and also engaged them in skill acquisition. Many of them ended up setting up cottage businesses, including bread-making factories, with the help of the state government.

Marwa also dualized the Mile 12-Ikorodu road. He was hailed for effectively combating insecurity with the joint military patrol code-named “Operation Sweep”.

Mohammad Buba Marwa Biography

Mohammed Buba Marwa was born September 9, 1953, in Kaduna, Kaduna State, northwest Nigeria.

Hails from Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State, northeast Nigeria.

Marwa attended Nigerian Military School, Zaria, and Nigerian Defense Academy, Kaduna. After which he attended the University of Pittsburgh, where he obtained a master's degree in International Relations, and another in Public Administration from Harvard University.

Career

Buba Marwa served as military administrator of Borno State for 1992 under General Ibrahim Babangida as Head of State.

Marwa later became Lagos State Military Governor for 1996 under late General Sani Abacha as Head of State. After retiring from the Nigerian army at the end of his tenure as Lagos State Governor, Baba Marwa establish Albarka Airlines and the Buba Marwa Endowment.

In September 2003, Buba Marwa gave up his position of Chairman / Chief Executive Officer of Albarka Airlines. In May 2007, the Federal Government of Nigeria withdrew the operating licenses of Albarka Airlines amidst controversial circumstances.

In December 2006, Marwa announced his plans to run for People's Democratic Party (PDP) primaries to become the party's candidate for President of Nigeria. Despite his plans failed, he shifted his support to Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, who later become president.

In 2007 Marwa was appointed as Nigeria High Commissioner to the Republic of South Africa.

Marwa in 2011 become di Governorship Candidate of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) at Adamawa, his home state against the then-current governor Murtala Nyako.

Marwa decamped from Nigeria ruling All Progressives Congress [APC] due to complaints of unfair treatment of his followers after his party CPC merged with ANPP and the ACN following the decamping of Governor Nyako to the same party.

In June 2015, Marwa return to APC with his followers following the swearing-in of President Muhammadu Buhari on May 29, 2015, and in March 2020, Marwa was appointed the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Twitter Trend: Nigerian Hail NDLEA Boss Despite Being A Northerner

Buba Marwa on Monday, May 24, 2021, made top Twitter trend following the interception of N8billion cocaine, arrests Brazilian based drug kingpin at Lagos airport, and seizes $24,500 offered as bribe to compromise the investigation.

A statement released by Femi Babafemi, spokesperson of the anti-drug agency, says the drug lord, Ejiofor Felix Enwereaku, who leads a syndicate was arrested at the airport on Friday 14th May 2021 for importing 27.95kg of cocaine using their organized criminal gang, which specializes in tagging/planting drugs in innocent travellers’ luggage.

Impressed by the outcome of the intelligence-led operational strategies that took weeks of painstaking efforts and closely monitored by him, Buba Marwa commended the Commander, MMIA Command of the agency, Ahmadu Garba, his officers and men for their diligence and resilience in following up every lead in the case until the kingpin was successfully entrapped and arrested.

''I have warned that well henceforth not only go after the traffickers but with the same vigour target the cartels and the kingpins that operate them; the latest arrest is a clear confirmation that well match our words with action and that well come for those who will not back out of the criminal trade, wherever they are hiding pushing instruments of death through our borders to destroy the lives of our youths'' Marwa said.

The huge burst triggered reactions on Twitter as some Nigerians praised his competence that knows no tribe or religion, calling on President Buhari, others to follow his footsteps while some said otherwise.

AllNews Nigeria captured some tweets, see below;

All well-meaning and reasonable Nigerians should continue to pray for Buba Marwa, and join hands with NDLEA to fight against the menace of drug abuse ravaging our society.#stopdrugabuse

— Dr. Ifedilichukwu Uchendu (@DrUchendu_) May 24, 2021

You see this Buba Marwa stunt is nothing but a set up.
Ask yourself who are those behind the drug cartels? Government knows.

Strong individuals are not the answer but strong institutions.

They will soon present him as candidate for Presidency.

— TiBugzy (@tibugzy) May 24, 2021

Buba Marwa is working without making any noise and the NDLEA seems to me like a new agency recently established and headed by Buba Marwa

Please Buba Marwa, after you are done with the drug lords, come to the streets of Kano, Lagos, PH, Benin, Katsina, Abuja, Delta, Ogun and Ondo

— ?# S E C U R E N O R T H ?? (@Engr_Engyne) May 24, 2021

If there is any major take away from Gen Buba Marwa 's exploits at NDLEA chairman..it is that competence knows no tribe or religion! However, eyebrows need to be raised about his predecessor though and the fact that Nigeria has a serious drug abuse problem that is understated

— Oluseyi Owolabi (@olushayhe) May 24, 2021

You see how no one is complaining that Buba Marwa is from the North?

We all sincerely just want competent people, we deeply don't want to fight every northerner, we all just want positive results!!!

— freelance ARCHITECT (@FaladeTolu_) May 24, 2021

Every institution works with great leadership. Buba Marwa should be commended for doing a great job @ NDLEA. More Grace to him.

— ADIO Anthony O (@adio_anthony) May 24, 2021

Buba marwa is making NDLA look like newly established Government Agency, Great job! state agencies like @kadbusa in Kaduna should pursue massive orientation programmes especially at grassroots. Kudos https://t.co/RX8MLUDlfc

— Bishara babah (@waste_rethink) May 24, 2021

Awon Gen Z won't know that the Keke Marwa also called Keke Napep which they enjoy all over Lagos today was introduced by Buba Marwa when he was military administrator of Lagos state.

— Ejike Kanife (@AktivIngredient) May 24, 2021

Sincerely speaking I want Gen.Buba marwa to become Nigeria president because he has no tribalism, sectionalism and others I wish him the best

— Kasimu mofti (@mofti_kasimu) May 24, 2021