A delegation of senior officials from the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) has assured the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) of enhanced collaboration and sustained support in the fight against illicit drug trafficking and related crimes.
The delegation paid a courtesy visit on Tuesday to the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commending the strong and productive relationship between the Agency and AFRICOM.
Speaking during the meeting, the leader of the delegation and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Liaison to AFRICOM, Philip Esch, described the partnership between NDLEA and the U.S. government as critical and highly valued. He praised Marwa’s leadership style and openness to international cooperation.
Esch said the relationship between NDLEA and the DEA remains of utmost importance to the United States, adding that the delegation looked forward to deepening engagement, especially following the renewal of Marwa’s tenure for another five years.
Another member of the delegation, James Elseth, said the U.S. government was enthusiastic about supporting NDLEA because of the Agency’s far-reaching impact beyond Nigeria. He noted that NDLEA’s operations contribute significantly to regional and global security.
Elseth also commended the Agency for the effective maintenance of equipment and facilities previously provided by the U.S. government, revealing that two major support projects were already underway in addition to continuous training and capacity-building programmes.
In his response, Marwa expressed appreciation for the visit and the ongoing support from AFRICOM, while congratulating Philip Esch on his years of distinguished service to the U.S. government. He attributed NDLEA’s recent achievements to strong international partnerships and the backing of the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Administration.
Marwa urged AFRICOM to sustain its support, particularly in view of the growing nexus between illicit drug trafficking and terrorism. He highlighted NDLEA’s priority needs, including advanced airport scanning equipment, digital forensic tools, portable drug detection devices, forensic laboratory equipment, and sniffer dogs.
The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of NDLEA and US-AFRICOM to deepening cooperation in tackling transnational drug crimes and strengthening security in Nigeria and beyond.
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