Nigeria’s Anti-narcotic Agency, the National Drug Laws Enforcement Agency, NDLEA and the Nigerian Custom Service, NCS have promised to fight illicit drug trafficking along Nigeria’s border line.
The two agencies made the commitment in Abuja during the signing of Memorandum of Understanding in synergizing against drug syndicates and barons.
Putting pen to paper on behalf of the Anti-narcotic Agency, the Chief Executive NDLEA Brigadier General Buba Marwa said, the aim of the collaboration was to provide an effective defense line at various Nigeria’s ports of entry and exit to prevent the influx of offensive materials and substances that undermine the country’s national security.
Marwa explained that the synergy would ensure that Nigeria’s national assets are not smuggled out to undermine economic progress and stability of the nation.
The NDLEA’S boss said, “the ultimate objective is to dissolve suspicion, friction and general interagency rivalry that does not do our nation any good in terms of effectively securing the entry and exit points of our country.”
Marwa assured that, with the united front against illicit drug trafficking, the criminal elements in the country will be the losers.
“I assure you that they will certainly lose big, as we come for them to put them where they rightfully belong in order to cripple their criminal syndicates.” Marwa said.
Marwa described the MoU as a benchmark for information and intelligence sharing as well as “a platform for sharing of operational and administrative experiences with a view to adopting best practices that work.”
Marwa recalled that before the establishment of NDLEA, the Nigerian Customs Service was the agency fighting Drug trafficking in the country, that the synergy among them was critical in addressing drug problem in Nigeria.
Border Protection
The Controller General Nigeria Custom Service, Colonel Hameed Ali who expressed commitment of the Service to the implementation of the MoU said, it serves as a very strong signal in the fight against crime and border protection.
He noted that the coming of Marwa to the agency has given Customs confidence that drug traffickers would be handled accordingly.
Ali said, “our synergy and collaboration will reduce the barest minimum drug trafficking in Nigeria.”
He advocated for better innovation through the development of software technologies in detecting hardened barons within the shows of Nigeria.
Confidence Okwuchi
