In a significant move to boost global anti-drug efforts, the NDLEA and the UK’s Home Office International Operations (HOIO) have signed an MoU to combat transnational drug trafficking and organized crime.
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Femi Babafemi in a statement on Monday indicated that the agreement, signed at the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja, marked a new phase in the long-standing partnership between the two agencies.
The statement quoted HOIO Regional Manager for West Africa, Mr. Ian Cunliffe, while speaking at the ceremony to have praised the existing collaboration, describing the MoU as “the beginning of the next phase of our relationship.”
NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), described the pact as more than a formal agreement, but “a reaffirmation of our mutual trust, collaboration, and unwavering commitment to safeguarding the lives and futures of our nations.”
Marwa emphasized that the MoU establishes a lawful and secure framework for sharing intelligence, personal data, and operational strategies in line with international standards and national laws.
“We are convinced that stronger intelligence sharing leads to stronger enforcement,” he said, noting that the partnership will improve joint capabilities in disrupting drug networks, tracking illicit financial flows, and apprehending traffickers with greater speed and accuracy.
The MoU aligned with Nigeria’s National Drug Control Master Plan and will enhance the country’s global efforts in combating the drug trade.