By Joy Odor
The United States and the United Kingdom governments have pledged it’s support to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) with the donation of a patrols speedboat in the fight against illicit drugs in Nigeria.
The Consul General of the US Consulate in Lagos, Ms Claire Pierangelo and the British Deputy High Commissioner in Nigeria, Mr Ben Llewellyn-Jones present the donation to the NDLEA Chairman, Retired Brigadier General Buba Marwa in Lagos on Tuesday.
Both countries while expressing satisfaction with the NDLEA performance recorded by the new leadership of Brigadier General Marwa in eight weeks in the assured that the both government are willing to collaborate and give more support to the lead anti-drug agency in Nigeria in view of the dynamism and efficiency that have been brought into the operations of the Agency.
US and UK government noted that they are pleased with the series of illicit drugs seized by the NDLEA at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, the Tincan seaport and the Apapa seaport, all in Lagos after Gen. Marwa came on board as the Chairman of the NDLEA.
They said with the renewed vigour brought into the war against illicit drugs in Nigeria and the successes recorded between January and now, both countries would be glad to offer more support to the Agency, adding that the handing over of the patrol boat is a significant indication of that.
“Since your appointment, there has been a flurry of activities. There have been huge seizures across commands. The cocaine seizure at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport was massive and for this, NDLEA must be recognised and commended.
“We’ll continue to give you all the necessary support. We must continue to work on our relationship to make sure that the current situation continues”, they stated.
In his response, Brigadier Gen. Marwa assured the British government that the boat would be put into good use, while thanking them for their investment and support for the war against illicit drugs in the country.
“I want to appreciate the American and the British government for the support given to the NDLEA over the years in terms of intelligence sharing, training, equipment and other logistics, and most especially since my assumption of duty as the Chairman of the NDLEA.
“Let me state categorically that with the new vigour and vigilance of our men and officers at the seaports, airports and land borders which recently resulted in huge seizures, I’m aware that drug traffickers have now turned to our waterways across the borders to bring in drugs.
With the donation of this boat today, I’ll like to warn that the time is up for them also on our waterways because from now they have the NDLEA to contend with there and we’ll deal decisively with them if they fail to back out of the criminal trade”, he stated.
Earlier, the NDLEA boss had led his team of officials on a courtesy visit to the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu who received them with his white cap chiefs.
Marwa said he was at the palace to seek the support of the monarch and the state’s traditional institution for the war against drugs.
He urged the royal father to set up drug control committees in Lagos and also add his influential voice to the campaign against drug abuse in the state and the country at large.
In his response, Oba Akiolu said he’s always known Marwa as an achiever and has no doubt that he would use his global network to impact positively on Nigeria’s fight against drug abuse and trafficking.
He called for more funding for the Agency to be able to achieve its objectives.
He commended Marwa for the noticeable impact he has made within the short time he took over the leadership of NDLEA.
Femi Babafemi
Director, Media & Advocacy
NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja
16th March, 2021
