UNODC assures NDLEA of more support, hails Marwa’s appointment

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has promised to deepen the relationship with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) under its new Chairman, Gen. Mohammed Marwa (rtd.).

The promise was made yesterday in Abuja when the global body’s Country Representative to Nigeria, Oliver Stolpe, visited the headquarters of the agency to congratulate Marwa on his recent appointment as Chief Executive of NDLEA.

According to a statement, yesterday by the Principal Staff Officer, Public Affairs of UNODC, Jonah Achema, the country representative said the appointment has sent a positive signal around the world and has renewed global confidence in Nigeria’s drug control capability.

“We have every confidence in your ability to deliver. As a technical assistance provider, which liaises with donor countries and agencies, we look forward to working with you in a more different way that will bring results.

“We appreciate the fact that the agency is operating in a very difficult situation, but the future of international collaboration is bright. There is a whole lot of resources that will be invested in international cooperation and Nigeria is one of the beneficiaries,” Stolpe reportedly stated.

He further noted that the National Drug Control Master Plan and other drug control documents such as Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs) being developed were some of the initiatives supported by the UNODC, aimed at deepening the drug control efforts in Nigeria.

Marwa, while receiving the country representative, expressed appreciation of the longstanding support given by the UN agency to NDLEA.

“The agency has enjoyed your support in various areas such as capacity building and manpower development, provision of communication equipment, and the development of the National Drug Control Master Plan.

“The National Drug Use Survey in Nigeria, which was launched by UNODC and other entities funded by the European Union (EU), is a foremost baseline for most of the conversations,” the NDLEA Chairman noted while soliciting more of such supports.