The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has auctioned properties seized from convicted drug traffickers across Lagos, Kano, Ondo, and Ogun states in a move aimed at crippling illicit drug networks and reinforcing accountability in the country’s anti-narcotics crusade.
The public auction, which was held at the NDLEA’s National Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, was conducted in the presence of pre-qualified auctioneers, civil society organisations, media representatives, and other stakeholders.
The agency disclosed that the properties, forfeited through court rulings, were either proceeds of drug trafficking or used as instruments in drug-related crimes.
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), who was represented by the Agency’s Secretary, Mr. Shadrach Haruna, described the exercise as a strategic effort to strip drug barons of their economic power.
He said the initiative was part of the NDLEA’s broader resolve to not only prosecute drug offenders but also eliminate their financial incentives through asset forfeiture.
“This auction is part of our broader commitment to transparency and justice. When drug traffickers know they stand to lose everything, including their ill-gotten wealth, it sends a stronger message than imprisonment alone,” Marwa stated.
A total of eight properties were slated for auction, but two — located in the Lekki and Ikorodu areas of Lagos — were stepped down following appeals received after the bidding process commenced.
Of the six properties auctioned, only two were sold above their reserve prices, generating over ₦139 million.
The remaining properties either failed to attract bids or were offered below benchmark values.
Speaking at the event, the Director of Proceeds of Crime Management, Jerry Iorwa Aernan, assured that all participating auctioneers were certified by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and passed integrity checks to prevent illicit reacquisition of the assets.
He noted that successful bidders must pay 10 percent of the bid amount within 14 days to secure their interest and complete full payment within a stipulated timeframe.
Also present at the auction, Umar Yakubu of the Centre for Transparency and Integrity Watch hailed the NDLEA for conducting a credible and transparent process. He described the auction as a vital tool for public education and deterrence against drug crimes.
Platform Times reports that this development is in line with the NDLEA’s intensified campaign to dismantle the financial infrastructure of drug trafficking syndicates and promote a drug-free Nigeria.
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