Envoy seeks deeper cooperation, proposes MoU to boost joint anti-narcotics efforts
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has pledged stronger support for Nigeria’s fight against illicit drugs as part of a renewed commitment to deepen collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
During a visit to the agency’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Salem Saeed Musabbeh Alshamsi, praised the NDLEA’s leadership for what he described as “consistent and exceptional performance” in the nation’s anti-drug campaign.
Alshamsi said his government had closely followed the agency’s string of successes under the leadership of Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), noting that Nigeria’s progress in intercepting drug shipments had also helped block illegal narcotics from entering the UAE.
“We are proud of your achievements and the impact of your work beyond Nigeria’s borders,” the envoy stated, adding that the UAE was eager to expand intelligence exchange and operational collaboration with the NDLEA.
He announced his country’s readiness to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian agency, covering information sharing, joint investigations, and cross-border operations against drug syndicates. The envoy also invited Marwa to visit Dubai for further talks with the UAE’s law enforcement and drug control authorities.
In his response, Marwa expressed appreciation for the UAE’s support and commended the deepening diplomatic and economic relations between both countries. He noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda had strengthened Nigeria’s global partnerships, emphasizing that cooperation in drug control was essential to national stability and prosperity.
Marwa revealed that the NDLEA had intercepted more than 302 kilograms of illicit drugs bound for the UAE in the past four years through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport and local courier companies in Lagos.
“The drug problem is a global challenge, and the only way to defeat it is through partnership and shared intelligence,” he said, assuring that NDLEA would work closely with the UAE to curb trafficking networks operating across both countries.
The NDLEA chief reaffirmed his willingness to honor the UAE’s invitation for further discussions and to finalize the proposed MoU aimed at strengthening cooperation in the global war against narcotics.
