By JKNewsMedia
THE UNITED Arab Emirates (UAE) has reaffirmed its commitment to support the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and deepen collaboration in combating substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria.
The assurance was delivered during a courtesy visit by the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Salem Saeed Musabbeh Alshamsi, to NDLEA’s National Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, 11th November 2025.
During the visit, Ambassador Alshamsi commended the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), for providing exceptional leadership that has driven operational successes in the fight against drug-related crimes.
“I’m here to appreciate your hard work and the great leadership you have provided the NDLEA. We have been following your achievements very closely, and I must say you have done very well and are still doing an excellent job,” the envoy said.
The Ambassador highlighted the UAE’s recognition of the agency’s achievements in seizing and intercepting drugs destined for the country. “We follow all the good work that you’re doing, especially all the drugs you’re seizing and blocking from coming to the UAE, and we’re so proud of your achievements.
“That’s why we’re here to deepen our cooperation with your agency in the area of fighting drug trafficking,” he added.
Extending an invitation to Marwa to visit UAE and engage with Dubai Police leadership, the envoy expressed his government’s readiness to formalise collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NDLEA.
“We need to exchange information about drug dealers and all of their activities. We are here to help and support you, especially on this matter. It’s very important that we have excellent communication between the UAE and Nigeria,” he said.
Responding, Marwa thanked the Ambassador for his commendation and expressed appreciation for the UAE’s developmental strides.
He highlighted the strengthened trade and diplomatic relations between the two countries over the past two years, linking it to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“I’d like to acknowledge the strong diplomatic relations between our two countries that have continued to grow stronger every year. The drug scourge is universal, both in trafficking and abuse, and collaboration between nations is necessary to address it.
In Nigeria, the NDLEA is the agency tasked with the control of illicit drugs,” he said.
Marwa also noted that in the past four years, NDLEA had intercepted a total of 302.202 kilograms of assorted illicit substances destined for the UAE through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, or via courier companies.
He reaffirmed NDLEA’s commitment to global partnerships, underscoring the agency’s collaboration with leading drug law enforcement bodies worldwide.
“We welcome the collaboration between NDLEA and our counterparts in UAE. We are also willing to honour the invitation to visit UAE for collaborative discussions and to sign the MoU,” Marwa assured the envoy, signalling Nigeria’s readiness to strengthen international cooperation in tackling drug trafficking.
