By Femi Babafemi
I have had the privilege of knowing Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) for about 30 years. As a young reporter, I watched, from a professional distance, the transformation of a military administrator who stood apart an enigma committed not just to duty but to becoming a paragon of public service. In an era when military regimes often alienated the people, Marwa paradoxically emerged as “a man of the people” in Lagos, the very hotbed of anti-military sentiment.
Twenty-five years later, fate brought me under his direct leadership. The same qualities that distinguished him then remain undimmed today clarity of vision, relentless drive, and a disarming grace. Certain men transcend their time; they become institutions. Gen. Marwa is undoubtedly one of them.
Wherever you encounter him be it in Lagos, Abuja, Borno, Washington, New York, or Owerri you will meet people with stories of his impact. Each recollection adds a new dimension to his multifaceted personality. After decades of knowing him, I still hear fresh testimonies of his goodness, his foresight, and his capacity to transform spaces and systems.
Working with him at Nigeria’s anti-narcotics agency over the last 56 months has only reinforced this truth: wherever Marwa serves, change follows. He leaves structures where none existed, institutions where there were gaps, and legacies that endure long after his exit.
One enduring example dates back to his tenure as Defence Adviser at Nigeria’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York. Before him, the office had no official residence. Marwa not only envisioned one but worked until it became reality. That foresight remains a permanent legacy for all his successors.
Fast forward to February this year, he replicated that legacy when NDLEA, under his watch, commissioned its first-ever barracks in the agency’s 35-year history. Vintage Marwa: turning ideas into enduring structures.
His Lagos years remain legendary. Operation Sweep restored security. Operation 250 Roads rehabilitated infrastructure. Housing estates, medical facilities, and tourist resorts sprouted. The iconic Keke Marwa, now a fixture across Nigeria, still stands as a reminder of his administrative ingenuity. In old Borno, it was Marwa who pioneered the creation of the State Ministry of Water Resources a structure that has since become a model replicated across the country.
Today, at NDLEA, his leadership has been nothing short of transformative. He has reawakened a sleeping giant, placing Nigeria’s anti-drug fight on regional and global platforms. His reforms are both foundational and future-facing, ensuring the agency resonates beyond borders.
Marwa’s genius is not in wielding a magic wand but in applying vision, discipline, and an uncommon grace to leadership. That grace humble yet firm, decisive yet humane is the thread that ties together his lifelong service.
As he turns 72 today, September 9, we celebrate not just the man but his legacies. Twice decorated with national honours (CON, OFR), recipient of four honorary doctorates, and holder of countless traditional titles, his story is one of service, recognition, and lasting impact.
For me, the summation is simple: Gen. Marwa is a man who builds where nothing exists. His footprints across states, institutions, and generations ensure that his place in Nigeria’s history is secure.
Happy birthday to a true builder of legacies.
Femi Babafemi is the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Abuja.
