The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has declared that Nigeria is no longer a permissive environment for international drug cartels, citing the remarkable achievements of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) under its current leadership.
UNODC Commends NDLEA's Progress
Speaking at a ceremony in Abuja on Monday, the UNODC Country Representative in Nigeria, Mr. Cheikh Ousmane Toure, praised the NDLEA for its significant arrests, seizures, and convictions over the past five years. The event marked the handover of modern audiovisual interview rooms provided by UNODC and funded by the United States International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (US-INL).
Toure emphasized that transnational drug trafficking remains a major destabilizing force globally, fueling corruption, violence, and exploiting vulnerable communities. He commended Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd), Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, for his courage and professionalism in confronting criminal networks.
U.S. Support and Future Plans
Expressing gratitude to the U.S. government for funding the project, Toure urged the replication of such facilities across all NDLEA commands and formations nationwide to strengthen the agency's capacity.
In his remarks, Marwa thanked US-INL and UNODC for their support, affirming the agency's readiness for future challenges. He highlighted the upgraded facilities' role in enhancing investigative integrity and advancing digital transformation, aligning with international standards and reinforcing transparency and the rule of law.
Marwa assured that the new equipment would lead to improved capacity, higher investigative standards, and more effective justice delivery in Nigeria's fight against drug trafficking.
