The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), has called on Nigerians to speak out against a growing pop culture that makes the use of illegal drugs look normal, especially among young people.
According to the NDLEA boss, “We recognise 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. Through this station, we will drive our narrative softly but firmly.
“We will counter the toxic pop culture that glamorises 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.
“If we do not control the narrative today, the consequences tomorrow will be catastrophic. Substance abuse is a hydra-headed monster that feeds insecurity, decimates public health, cripples economic productivity, and compromises the very future of our workforce.
“But for us at the NDLEA, we refuse to look at the future through a lens of despair. We are deeply hopeful because today represents concrete action. It represents a paradigm shift. It proves that the NDLEA is not just reacting to threats, but proactively innovating to stay ahead of them. Clean Beat 91.5 FM will stand as a beacon of light, constantly reminding us that a drug-free Nigeria is not an idealistic dream; it is an achievable reality.
“Today, we are doing something far more significant than merely switching on a transmitter or launching a new radio station. Today, we are amplifying hope. We are commissioning a powerful, relentless voice for a cause that sits at the very heart of our national security, the survival of our communities, and the destiny of our youth.
“At the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), our mandate is clear, and our resolve is unyielding. Day and night, our officers are on the front lines. We intercept illicit shipments, dismantle sophisticated criminal syndicates, and prosecute those who trade in human misery.
“With the benefit of hindsight, I have always maintained that while enforcement wins battles, education and prevention win wars. 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 demand. It is won when we conquer the ignorance that lures our children into the abyss of addiction.
“And that is precisely why Clean Beat 91.5 FM was conceived. In a fast-evolving digital age, radio remains an incomparable asset. It is intimate. It is immediate. It bypasses barriers and speaks directly to citizens in their living rooms, on their daily commutes, in bustling marketplaces, and in quiet moments of introspection,” he said.
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Marwa noted that the milestone would not have been possible without the unwavering support of Bola Tinubu, who approved the budget for the station; the National Security Adviser (NSA); and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), which approved the radio frequency, alongside international partners and the dedicated NDLEA team that worked tirelessly to translate the vision into broadcast reality.
In his goodwill message, the United Nations Country Representative, Mr Cheikh Ousmane Toure, represented by Dr Akanidomo Ibanga, commended Marwa for recognising radio as a viable advocacy tool.
In his remarks, the Director-General of the NBC, Charles Ebuebu, commended the agency’s leadership “under the visionary stewardship of Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa for this remarkable initiative. The establishment of Clean Beat 91.5 FM represents far more than the launch of another radio station. It represents the strategic deployment of broadcasting as an instrument of national orientation, behavioural change, youth engagement and social transformation.
“I am particularly encouraged by the station’s focus on youth engagement. Nigeria has one of the youngest populations in the world, and our greatest long-term national investment must remain the protection, education and empowerment of our young people,” he said, noting that the fight against substance abuse is not simply a law enforcement responsibility but a national development imperative.
