Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has expressed concern that criminal networks are becoming increasingly sophisticated, leveraging technology, regulatory gaps, and corrupt port channels. He called for collaboration among key stakeholders to address the growing insecurity in the maritime domain. Speaking at a conference organized by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Apapa, Lagos, the governor emphasized that criminal actors are diversifying their methods, which is particularly alarming.
Conference on Blue Economy Security
The conference, themed “Addressing Emerging Criminal Trends: A Legal Framework and Best Practices for Safeguarding Nigeria’s Blue Economy Against Organised Crimes, Illicit Drug Trafficking and Piracy in Maritime Operations,” was attended by representatives from the Navy, Police, Immigration, and other relevant stakeholders. Governor Sanwo-Olu, represented by his Special Adviser on the Blue Economy, Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, described the theme as both apt and urgent. He noted that Lagos State, as Nigeria’s commercial nerve center and gateway to West Africa’s maritime trade, holds a defining position in this conversation. The governor described the conference as a declaration of national intent, signaling that Nigeria will no longer allow its maritime domain to be exploited as a corridor for crime, a conduit for narcotics, or a theater for piracy.
NDLEA's Commitment to Maritime Security
Earlier, the NDLEA Director of Seaports Operations, ACG Archieabis Ibinabo, stressed that drug trafficking is not merely a crime but is deeply interconnected with other forms of organized crime, including money laundering, arms smuggling, human trafficking, terrorism, and violent crimes. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Marwa (rtd), represented by the Director of Airport Operations, Ahmed Garba, stated that securing maritime waters is not a task for a single agency but a collective crusade. Marwa reaffirmed the NDLEA’s commitment to transforming Nigeria’s maritime domain and called for collaboration with policymakers, the judiciary, and enforcement officers to ensure that the waters remain a secure engine of growth and a pillar of national pride.
Alternative Development Drive
Meanwhile, the NDLEA has deepened its alternative development drive through a strategic visit to the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB) and a field assessment of Artemisia cultivation in Ibafo, Ogun State. Marwa, represented by his Chief of Staff, Col. MI Aminu, led a delegation to the university and Ibafo, accompanied by the NDLEA Commander, Ogun State Command, Tijjani Rabe, and the National Coordinator of the Alternative Development Project in Nigeria, Jonah Kolo. Marwa stated that the visit aimed to drive the alternative development project in Nigeria through practical implementation that reduces illicit crop cultivation and expands sustainable agricultural opportunities. In response, the Vice Chancellor of FUNAAB, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, lauded the initiative, highlighting the university’s vast agricultural resources, including thousands of hectares of arable land.
