The French government has pledged to provide enhanced support to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the areas of training, capacity-building, and logistics, to strengthen the agency’s efforts in the fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.

A delegation of the French government to the NDLEA headquarters, yesterday, in Abuja, led by the Director of Security and Defence Cooperation at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Lt.-Gen. Regis Colcombet, gave the assurance.

Colcombet described the meeting as a follow-up to agreements made between French President Emmanuel Macron and President Bola Tinubu during the latter’s recent state visit to Paris.

Stressing the importance of the meeting, he said: “It’s now three months after the very successful state visit of your President to France, and we’ve been requested to follow up and see how we can further develop this cooperation.”

In response to specific requests for support, the team leader confirmed that training slots for selected NDLEA officers would be available at the French Regional Academy in Côte d’Ivoire, particularly in tactical operations and cybersecurity.

Colcombet also indicated that logistical support to facilitate these trainings would be provided. NDLEA Chairman, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), expressed gratitude for the growing relationship between Nigeria and France, attributing it to the positive rapport between Presidents Tinubu and Macron. He highlighted the advantages the relationship brings to the anti-narcotics agency.