By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporter
STRENGTHENING NIGERIA’s fight against drug trafficking and substance abuse remains a top priority, with new commitments to boost the operational capacity of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) through increased training and logistical support.
This assurance came during a high-level meeting on Tuesday, 4 March 2025, at the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja.
Lt. Gen. Regis Colcombet, Director of Security and Defence Cooperation at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, led the French delegation and engaged with NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) to discuss areas of enhanced cooperation.
Lt. Gen. Colcombet emphasised that the meeting was a follow-up to the agreements reached between President Emmanuel Macron and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during Tinubu’s recent state visit to France.
He recalled previous discussions with Marwa in France about two years ago on bolstering NDLEA operations.
“It’s important for us to be here, because it’s now three months after the very successful state visit of your president to France, which has brought significant developments.
“We’ve been requested to come, develop, follow up, and see how we can advance this cooperation,” Colcombet stated.
He assured that in addition to providing tactical training for selected NDLEA officers across different commands and formations, France would allocate more slots for cyber security training at the French Regional Academy in Côte d’Ivoire.
He also confirmed that logistical support would be supplied to enhance the implementation of these training programmes.
Responding, NDLEA Marwa welcomed the French government’s continued support and highlighted how the close rapport between Presidents Tinubu and Macron had strengthened bilateral cooperation, particularly in counter-narcotics operations.
He stressed the need for further assistance in manpower development and capacity building for NDLEA personnel, particularly in tactical operations, cyber and crypto investigations.
The French delegation included Lt. Col. Pierre Yves Dupe, Philippe Baurreau, Colonel Oliver Ductet, and Philippe Crespo, who were part of discussions on the next steps in advancing collaboration.
