November 12, (THEWILL) — The government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening cooperation with Nigeria in the ongoing fight against drug trafficking and substance abuse.
This assurance was given on Tuesday, November 11, when the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Salem Saeed Musabbeh Alshamsi, paid a courtesy visit to the headquarters of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Abuja.
Ambassador Alshamsi commended the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), for his leadership and the agency’s string of operational successes in the fight against illicit drugs.
“I’m here to appreciate your hard work and the great leadership you have provided to the NDLEA. We have followed your achievements closely, and I must say you have done exceptionally well.
“We are proud of your efforts, especially in blocking drugs that might have reached the UAE, and we look forward to strengthening our collaboration in this crucial area,” Alshamsi said.
He also emphasized the need for closer coordination and intelligence sharing between both countries to effectively combat global drug trafficking networks.
The Ambassador disclosed that the UAE was ready to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the NDLEA to institutionalize cooperation and enhance the exchange of critical information on drug-related activities.
“We need to share intelligence on drug dealers and their operations. The UAE is ready to help and support you on this issue.
“Our relationship with Nigeria is one of the strongest, and we are committed to working together even more closely. If there’s any way I can support your great work here, please don’t hesitate to ask,” he said.
In his response, NDLEA Chairman Marwa expressed appreciation for the UAE’s support and commended the country’s commitment to deepening its partnership with Nigeria.
He noted that both nations had recorded significant growth in diplomatic and trade relations in recent years, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“I’d like to acknowledge the strong diplomatic relations between our two countries, which continue to strengthen year after year.
The UAE’s remarkable progress in trade and development aligns with our President’s vision of a prosperous and stable Nigeria. The fight against drug trafficking and abuse is a global challenge that requires collective action,” Marwa stated.
He revealed that the NDLEA had intercepted more than 302 kilograms of illicit drugs bound for the UAE over the past four years, largely through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and local courier companies.
According to him, the seizures demonstrate the agency’s commitment to preventing Nigeria from being used as a transit route for international drug cartels.
“The NDLEA, as Africa’s leading anti-narcotics agency, works with several global partners to tackle the menace of illicit drugs.
“We welcome the UAE’s willingness to collaborate more deeply and look forward to formalizing this partnership through an MoU. I also anticipate visiting the UAE soon for further discussions with your counterparts and law enforcement agencies,” Marwa added.
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