The government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has pledged stronger collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in combating drug trafficking and abuse, commending the agency’s leadership under Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) for its outstanding results in Nigeria’s anti-narcotics campaign.
The UAE’s commitment was conveyed by its Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Salem Saeed Musabbeh Alshamsi, during a courtesy visit to the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, November 11, 2025.
Ambassador Alshamsi praised Marwa for his “great leadership” and the agency’s consistent successes in intercepting illicit substances, noting that NDLEA’s operations have contributed significantly to blocking the flow of drugs into the UAE.
“We have been following your achievements very closely, and I must say you have done very well,” the envoy said. “The UAE is proud of your efforts in stopping drugs from entering our country, and we are here to deepen cooperation with your agency in the fight against trafficking.”
The Ambassador also extended an invitation to Marwa to visit the UAE for high-level engagements with his counterparts and the Dubai Police leadership. He expressed his government’s readiness to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the NDLEA to enhance intelligence sharing and operational coordination.
“We need to exchange information about drug dealers and their activities. The UAE is ready to support and strengthen communication with Nigeria, especially now that the relationship between our countries is one of the best it has ever been,” he added.
In his response, Brig. Gen. Marwa expressed appreciation to the UAE government for its goodwill and commitment to joint efforts against drug trafficking. He lauded the deepening diplomatic and economic relations between both nations, which he said align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at promoting peace, stability, and prosperity.
“The drug scourge is a universal challenge—both the trafficking and abuse—and no nation can tackle it alone,” Marwa stated. “Collaboration between countries is essential, and NDLEA remains open to working with global partners, including the UAE, to develop sustainable solutions.”
In a statement by Femi Babafemi, Director, Media & Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Marwa revealed that in the past four years, NDLEA had intercepted over 302 kilograms of assorted illicit substances destined for the UAE, seized at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) and various courier companies in Lagos.
He reaffirmed NDLEA’s commitment to global partnerships, describing the agency as Africa’s largest anti-narcotics institution that works closely with counterparts across the world.
“We welcome the collaboration with the UAE and will be glad to honour your invitation for discussions and to sign the MoU,” Marwa assured.
The meeting underscored the growing cooperation between Nigeria and the UAE, particularly in law enforcement, trade, and diplomatic engagement, reflecting a shared determination to combat transnational crimes through strategic partnerships.
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