December 25, (THEWILL) — A United States–based security research and strategy organisation, Ogun Security Research and Strategic Consulting LLC (OSRS), has named the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), as Security Leader of the Year 2025.
OSRS announced the recognition in a statement published on its website on Thursday, December 25, explaining that Marwa emerged as the top following an independent, AI-assisted and evidence-based assessment of Nigeria’s security leadership landscape. The organisation stated that the evaluation focused on operational success, integrity, institutional reform and sustained public confidence.
According to OSRS, Nigeria’s security challenges in 2025 demanded leadership beyond the use of force, requiring measurable results delivered alongside respect for human rights, institutional accountability and public trust.
“In a year marked by terrorism, drug trafficking, organised crime and public scepticism toward state power, one security leader stood out”, the organisation said, adding that Marwa’s leadership offered insights into the future of security governance in Nigeria.
OSRS explained that its assessment is anchored on four pillars: operational effectiveness and national impact; respect for human rights and the rule of law; employee welfare, morale and internal discipline; as well as public perception, trust and institutional credibility.
The organisation disclosed that artificial intelligence was deployed to analyse open-source intelligence, performance data and verified records, while human security experts reviewed and validated all findings to minimise bias and preserve professional judgment.
Under Marwa’s leadership, OSRS noted, the NDLEA recorded historic operational outcomes in 2025, dismantling international drug trafficking networks, intercepting record quantities of illicit drugs and disrupting criminal supply chains linked to terrorism, banditry and organised violence.
“These were intelligence-driven operations executed through close collaboration with international partners and supported by strong internal controls. By targeting the financial and logistical backbone of crime, the NDLEA delivered national security impact beyond traditional law enforcement”, the statement said.
Beyond operational gains, OSRS commended Marwa for prioritising institutional reform and discipline, noting that the NDLEA avoided major corruption scandals in a sector often associated with misconduct. Officers were promoted and rewarded based on performance, clearer career pathways were established, and accountability mechanisms, including the deployment of body-worn cameras, were strengthened.
The organisation added that employee welfare was treated as a core security concern, resulting in improved morale, professionalism and operational consistency across the agency.
On public trust and ethical leadership, OSRS, led by renowned global security expert, Dr Oludare Ogunlana, observed that the NDLEA emerged in 2025 as one of Nigeria’s most credible and disciplined security institutions.
“Marwa’s leadership emphasised professionalism over intimidation and accountability over impunity. The agency’s operations aligned with legal standards and largely avoided the human rights controversies that undermined public confidence in other institutions. Trust was earned through consistency, not rhetoric”, the statement said.
OSRS concluded that Marwa’s selection reflects a broader shift in how security leadership is evaluated, stressing that effective security governance now requires institutional integrity, intelligence-led operations and attention to staff welfare and discipline.
“Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa’s selection as OSRS Security Leader of the Year 2025 is not about personality but proof. In a year of pressure and uncertainty, his leadership demonstrated that results, reform and trust can co-exist”, the organisation added.
The recognition, OSRS noted, serves as a reminder that sustained service and responsibility remain central to building credible and effective security institutions in Nigeria.
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