The United States Africa Command (US AFRICOM) has pledged to strengthen its support and cooperation with Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the ongoing fight against illicit drug trafficking and related crimes.
The assurance was given on Tuesday during a meeting between a senior US AFRICOM delegation and the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd). The meeting took place at the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja and focused on deepening existing partnerships, improving capacity, and boosting joint efforts to tackle drug trafficking in Nigeria and across the region.
The meeting was confirmed in a statement issued by the Director of Media and Advocacy of NDLEA, Femi Babafemi. According to the statement, the US delegation praised the progress made by NDLEA in recent years and promised further assistance in training, intelligence sharing, and international cooperation.
The US AFRICOM delegation was led by Philip Esch, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Liaison to AFRICOM. Esch described the relationship between NDLEA and the US-DEA as very important to the US government.
According to him, the partnership goes beyond formal cooperation and plays a key role in global efforts to stop drug trafficking and organised crime.
“We appreciate all the support and the leadership you provide,” Esch said. “Obviously, you know that the relationship between NDLEA and DEA is of utmost importance, and we appreciate the excellent relationship across US law enforcement with you and the NDLEA.”
He added that the United States is pleased with the work NDLEA has been doing under Marwa’s leadership and is committed to sustaining the partnership.
“We want that to continue, and we are very happy that your tenure was renewed for another five years. We really look forward to continued engagement,” Esch said.
Marwa was reappointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu following his first term, during which NDLEA recorded several high-profile drug arrests and seizures.
Another member of the delegation, James Elseth, also spoke during the meeting and praised NDLEA for its wider view of security beyond Nigeria’s borders. He said the agency understands that drug trafficking is a transnational problem that affects many countries.
“I want to thank you, General, because you have a regional mindset and an international mindset, that is showing clearly in the scope and impact of your work,” Elseth said.
He noted that while some countries focus only on internal issues, NDLEA recognises the need for international cooperation to tackle organised crime.
“A lot of countries that we work with are only focused on their country. And just like DEA and FBI, we have an international mindset to try to stop organized crime from impacting our respective countries,” he added.
Elseth also commended NDLEA for properly maintaining equipment and facilities earlier provided by the United States. He disclosed that more support is already being planned.
“Two major projects are already in the works to further support the agency, in addition to trainings and others,” he said, without giving specific details.
In his response, Brigadier General Marwa expressed appreciation to US AFRICOM and other American law enforcement agencies for their continuous support to NDLEA.
He said the achievements recorded by the agency in recent years would not have been possible without the help of international partners.
“We appreciate very much the ongoing support from AFRICOM,” Marwa said. “I must also say that whatever we are achieving is due to this kind of support from you and our other international partners.”
Marwa also linked the progress made by NDLEA to the backing of the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu.
“More importantly, it is due to the commitment and encouragement from the Renewed Hope administration of President Bola Tinubu,” he said.
He congratulated Philip Esch for his long years of service to the US government and thanked the delegation for visiting the agency.
During the meeting, Marwa stressed the growing link between drug trafficking and terrorism, especially in parts of Africa. He noted that illegal drug trade often serves as a source of funding for terrorist groups and other criminal networks.
He urged US AFRICOM to continue supporting NDLEA, especially in areas that would help Nigeria better detect, investigate, and prevent drug-related crimes.
Marwa outlined several areas where NDLEA needs urgent support. These include modern scanning equipment at airports and seaports to detect drugs hidden in luggage and cargo. He also mentioned the need for digital forensic tools to track online drug networks and financial transactions.
Other needs highlighted by the NDLEA boss include portable drug detection devices, improved forensic laboratory equipment, and trained sniffer dogs to help in drug searches.
The NDLEA is Nigeria’s lead agency in the fight against drug trafficking and abuse. It was established in 1989 to stop the growing problem of illegal drugs in the country and to meet Nigeria’s international obligations.
In recent years, NDLEA has intensified its operations, leading to large seizures of cocaine, heroin, cannabis, and synthetic drugs. The agency has also arrested drug barons and dismantled several trafficking networks operating within and outside Nigeria.
Nigeria’s location makes it a key transit point for drugs moving from South America and Asia to Europe and other parts of the world. This has made cooperation with international partners, especially the United States, very important.
US AFRICOM is responsible for US military and security operations in Africa. While its main focus is defence and security, AFRICOM also works closely with law enforcement agencies to tackle threats such as terrorism, piracy, and drug trafficking.
The United States has long supported Nigeria through training, equipment, and intelligence sharing in areas of security and law enforcement. The partnership with NDLEA is part of broader efforts to reduce the flow of illegal drugs and weaken criminal groups.
The meeting between US AFRICOM and NDLEA comes at a time when Nigeria is facing serious challenges related to drug abuse, youth unemployment, and insecurity. Experts believe that cutting off drug supply chains and funding sources for criminal groups is key to improving national and regional security.
With promises of new projects, training, and equipment, NDLEA officials hope the renewed partnership with the United States will further strengthen the agency’s operations.
