Sunday Oyinloye
Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its fight against illicit drug trafficking is getting hotter by the day, even as the Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) reiterated the commitment of the Agency to increase the risk burden of trafficking in drugs and psychotropic substances in the country.
Marwa gave the assurance during the handing over ceremony of a provisional detention facility equipped by the UK Border Force to the NDLEA.
Gen. Marwa who was represented at the occasion by the Agency Secretary, Mr. Shadrach Haruna noted that the drug war is daily receiving a boost especially with the recent launch of the National Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP 2021-2025), which was funded by the European Union under the supervision of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
According to him, “the resources committed to the project clearly demonstrate the commitment of the United Kingdom to fostering international cooperation to fight the enduring problem of drug trafficking in Nigeria”. He thanked the UK Border Force for the facility and promised that the Agency will make judicious use of it.
The UK Border Force has been rendering assistance to the Agency in the areas of training, mentoring, provision of detection technology and other key infrastructure.
The regional operations manager, (West Africa), Mr. Christopher Hawksfield who was represented by Ms. Marie Maxwell gave assurance that the UK government will continue to partner with Nigeria in the fight against illicit drug trafficking across the globe. He noted that the facility would improve the efficiency of officers and men of NDLEA at the airport and the wellbeing of suspects before they are charged to court.
According to the Director Media & Advocacy of NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, among the facilities handed over are: a targeting office, an exhibit room, legal seat, two temporary detention facilities for male and female, computer sets as well as office equipment.
The Commander, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Command of NDLEA, Kabiru Sani Tsakuwa thanked the UK government and management of NDLEA for their support in making the Command’s work easier.
Present at the occasion were the NDLEA Director of Airport Operations, Mrs. Joyce Titus Awogbuyi; Coordinator, International Affairs, Mrs. Kennechi Nnoruka, representatives from Nigerian Customs Service, Immigration, DSS and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN.
