Drug war: NDLEA bolsters capacity within maritime space

Commissions marine facility as UK justifies support

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), yesterday, bolstered its capacity within the maritime space with the commissioning of its Marine Command Headquarters at Eko Atlantic City, a facility built and donated by the British Government.

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), said that the marine command would further tighten the noose on drug barons and cartels with the volume of arrests and seizures of illicit substances on the waterways and seaports.

Marwa, who spoke during the commissioning of the Marine Command Headquarters, expressed his profound appreciation to the British High Commission in Nigeria for believing in the project and considering it worthy of His Majesty’s investment.

According to him, the timely delivery of the project and the high standard of the finished work speak volumes about the commitment of the British Government to support our efforts.

He said: “Not quite long ago, a similar edifice, with state-of-the-art fittings, was handed over to NDLEA by the British Government at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

“There has also been a series of capacity-building initiatives and provision of equipment by the Home Office International Operations, which have bolstered the capability of the agency’s personnel and enhanced phenomenal drug seizures and arrests. We deeply appreciate the effort of the British government and its institutions.

“The illicit drug trade via maritime channels poses severe threats, not only in terms of drug proliferation but also because of its links to organised crime, terrorism, and human trafficking.”

The NDLEA boss said the recent operational successes recorded by the agency on the waterways and seaports justified his decision to upgrade the marine unit of the agency to a full-fledged command in 2022.

Marwa, while calling for continuous collaboration among various security agencies operating within the maritime space, said that the operation of the special marine squad on the waterways of Lagos State had shown the increasing complexity of maritime drug trafficking.

In his remarks, the British Deputy High Commissioner, Jonny Baxter, justified why the UK government is supporting the work of NDLEA.

According to him, it is also a delight to see such a wide range of people here at this event because from our perspective, that shows the level of commitment that we see from our Nigerian partners and colleagues to what is the really critical work carried out by the NDLEA in tackling drug trafficking.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Abimbola Salu Hundeyin, said that the NDLEA’s presence in Lagos State had been pivotal in curbing the illegal drug trade.