KEY POINTS
- France reassures NDLEA that the fight against drug trafficking and abuse will continue to receive its support.
- Phillipe Crespo praises NDLEA’s effort and they reveal an MoU on formalizing the ongoing partnership.
- Buba Marwa appreciated the French partnership and the success of the ongoing training programs for NDLEA personnel
Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has reassured the support of the French government to fight drug trafficking and abuse.
Giving the assurance was when the French Police Attaché in Nigeria, Mr. Phillipe Crespo paid a courtesy visit at the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja with his colleagues, Messrs. Phillipe Barrau, Tony Albaladejo, and Cedric Hocquette.
The visit comes on the heels of a series of special operations training organized for the NDLEA’s Strike Force Unit at the NDLEA Academy in Jos which was the third of its kind in the last two years.
Building the partnership
Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, NDLEA Chairman, who received the French team in ‘fatherly ease’, was praised by Mr. Crespo for his welcoming disposition of the French team and also his leadership in mobilizing international and local partnerships against Substance abuse and Illicit drug trafficking.
NDLEA’s operations have been successful and the agency has intercepted drug consignments meant for Europe and beyond, benefitting Nigerian cities and foreign communities, Crespo said.
The French government would continue to support and work with the French National Police and the NDLEA in addressing these vital issues, he said.
To build upon their work, he proposed that the partnership be formalized by memorandum of understanding (MoU) the following year.
Commending training success
French technical expert, Philippe Barrau also showered encomiums on the NDLEA officers over the three-week training program, describing them as professionals and dedicated to their job.
The NDLEA Academy could host and facilitate such a comprehensive training session, he commended.
NDLEA’s appreciation
Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa in his response thanked the French government for its unflinching support and partnership. He spoke about his 2022 visit to RAID headquarters in France at which he asked for the training and about the immediate and uniform reactions by the French team.
Global collaboration was particularly necessary to fight the global drug problem, a menace to public health and national security all over the world, he said.
NDLEA boss Marwa also welcomed the proposed MoU and reiterated his agency’s resolve to partner with the French authorities.
