Marwa commissions new NDLEA facility built by UK government

Mohamed Buba Marwa, chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), on Monday, commissioned a new operational facility built and donated to the NDLEA by the UK government.

According to Marwa, the facility is a result of the strong collaboration between Nigeria and the UK and will further boost the capability of the NDLEA in tackling substance abuse and drug crime in Nigeria. commissioning and handing over ceremony

“This building complex stands not only as a physical structure but as a symbol of the enduring partnership between our two nations in the global fight against drug trafficking,” he said during the commissioning and handing over ceremony

“It represents the culmination of years of cooperation, mutual trust, and shared determination to combat one of the most pressing threats to our societies.”

Marwa said the facility will be used for data analysis and strategic planning in the NDLEA’s efforts to disrupt drug trafficking networks and apprehend culprits.

“With state-of-the-art facilities and technology at our disposal, we are better equipped than ever before to tackle this complex and ever-evolving challenge head-on,” he said.

The NDLEA says that since 2021, it has arrested 50,901 drug offenders including 46 barons and prosecuted and convicted 9,034 of them, which included the seizure of over 7,561 tonnes of illicit substances, and destruction of 1,057 hectares of cannabis farms.

Jonny Baxter, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria echoed the interest of the UK government in the NDLEA’s work and assured the organisation of continued support to fight drug crimes in Nigeria

“We’re delighted to continue our support for the NDLEA and the Nigerian government to tackle what is sadly a global industry, which needs a global response. I’ll like to join the chairman in affirming our continued support, our continued cooperation and indeed our continued pride in working together with ladies and gentlemen of this agency, the NDLEA.”

The commissioned building is one of the UK’s commitments to reinforcing the anti-narcotic agency.

In February, The United Kingdom Home Office International Operations (HOIO) revealed that the UK government will embark on the construction of a maritime headquarters for NDLEA in June following the visit of the HOIO Africa region Director, Richard Lloyd to the national headquarters of NDLEA in Abuja.

Lloyd expressed the HOIO’s interest in signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the NDLEA, which the UK’s National Crime Agency had signed last year.