United Kingdom Home Office International Operations, (HOIO), has said that it will further support Nigeria’s War Against Drug Abuse, (WADA), through the construction of a maritime headquarters for maritime operations of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA).

Director, Africa Region Operations of HOIO, Mr. Richard Lloyd, who disclosed this at a meeting with the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, (CEO), while on a courtesy visit to the NDLEA office, yesterday in Abuja.

He stated that the HOIO has just completed the refurbishing of two patrol boats for the maritime operations of the Agency while assuring of further logistic support in that direction including a maritime headquarters.

Leading a four member delegation, Lloyd said “The way that we work together with the home office international operations and the NDLEA is astonishing. I manage a lot of countries and teams in Africa and I have a lot of teams across the continent and Nigeria is by far head and shoulders above everyone.

“I have heard so many good stories of the agency and your team. I’ve been nothing but impressed since I arrived in Nigeria 10 days ago. I met a lot of the team in Lagos and in Abuja and I must say they have been fantastic.

He said the UK hopes to partner further with the NDLEA in dismantling trans-border drug trafficking through a fresh Memorandum of Understanding, (MoU), with the NDLEA very soon and that the HOIO has just completed the refurbishing of two patrol boats for the maritime operations of the NDLEA.

“The office, (HOIO), has a keen interest in Nigeria and the way that we work to disrupt organized crime and gangs in the country. Congratulations to the NDLEA team for doing a fantastic job.

“To be fair, I may be biased but across all of our operations, we are massively ahead of everyone and it is really good for me to go back to the UK and highlight the amazing work that NDLEA does with the home office team in the country,” he adds.

Responding, Buba-Marwa assured that “The NDLEA is very committed to its mandate. We plan to go down to the 774 local governments of the country so that at the community levels, we are able to check what is going on there and do whatever needs to be done there.

“We know these are difficult times in the UK as it is with other countries, and we appreciate that even with that you find the resources to support us is much welcome, especially the training, and capacity building which is very important.

“We thank you very much for these encouraging remarks. These commendations coming from you are considered highly because we are glad to be meeting our mandate.”