A United States–based security research firm has identified the leadership of Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) at the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) as a defining example of modern security governance in Nigeria, naming him Security Leader of the Year 2025.
The recognition, announced by Texas-based Ogun Security Research and Strategic Consulting LLC (OSRS), goes beyond operational success, focusing instead on how Marwa reshaped a critical security institution in a year marked by rising insecurity, public distrust and complex criminal threats.
According to OSRS, Nigeria’s 2025 security environment required leadership capable of delivering results without undermining public confidence or the rule of law — a balance the organisation said Marwa consistently achieved.
Rather than measuring success by arrests alone, OSRS evaluated security leadership through four lenses: measurable national impact, respect for human rights, internal discipline and staff welfare, and public trust. The assessment combined artificial intelligence–driven data analysis with human expert validation.
Within this framework, OSRS said Marwa stood out.
Under his leadership, the NDLEA disrupted international drug trafficking networks, intercepted record volumes of illicit substances and weakened criminal supply chains that fund terrorism, banditry and organised violence. OSRS noted that these outcomes reflected a shift toward intelligence-led, cooperative enforcement rather than reactive crackdowns.
However, the organisation stressed that Marwa’s most significant contribution lay in institutional reform. In a sector often associated with corruption and low morale, the NDLEA recorded improved internal discipline, clearer promotion pathways and stronger accountability mechanisms, including the use of body-worn cameras.
Employee welfare, OSRS noted, was treated as a security priority rather than a bureaucratic issue, resulting in higher morale and more consistent operational performance nationwide.
On public perception, OSRS observed that the NDLEA emerged in 2025 as one of the few security agencies widely viewed as credible and professional. Marwa’s leadership style, the organisation said, emphasised accountability over intimidation and legality over expediency, helping the agency avoid controversies that weakened public trust in other institutions.
According to OSRS founder and global security expert, Dr. Oludare Ogunlana, Marwa’s selection reflects a changing understanding of what effective security leadership means in Nigeria.
“Force alone no longer defines success. Institutional integrity, intelligence-driven operations and staff discipline are now central to national security outcomes,” he said.
OSRS concluded that Marwa’s leadership offers a practical model for reform across Nigeria’s broader security architecture, demonstrating that effectiveness, reform and public trust can coexist even under intense pressure.
The organisation noted that the recognition is not an endpoint, but a reminder of the responsibility that comes with leadership in a volatile security environment.
US-Based Institute Hails Marwa’s NDLEA Reforms, Names Him 2025 Security Leader
