The Nigerian Navy has donated two epenal boats and other operational equipment to Nigeria’s Anti-narcotic agency, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA to boost its maritime operations.
The Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, made the handing over in Lagos, Southern Nigeria.
Represented by the Ag. Flag Officer, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral HUF Kaoje said, the support for the Anti-narcotic Agency was to enhance its efforts to fight the drug scourge and boost its capability to curb illicit drug activities on the waterways.
The Naval chief expressed determination to continue to support the Agency as a major stakeholder in national development.
The Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) while receiving the equipment said that the ongoing synergy between the anti-narcotic agency and other stakeholders especially the military will further tighten the noose on drug cartels and spell doom for their activities in the country.
Gen. Marwa who was represented by the Agency’s Director of Seaports Operations, DCGN Omolade Faboyede expressed confidence that the partnership with the Nigerian Navy will produce more outstanding results in the Country’s fight against narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
Marwa described the gesture as symbolic and beginning of an era of stronger ties between both institutions.
“The Agency is determined to cripple the activities of drug cartels on every front. We do not doubt that the combination of naval and narcotics strategies will spell doom for drug barons in the coming days. NDLEA will continue to partner with relevant stakeholders as we tighten the noose on drug criminals. He declared.
He said, “I am particularly pleased with the prompt response to my request for material that could help to strengthen the Marine Unit of NDLEA as part of a sweeping effort to protect Nigerian waters from the trafficking of illicit drug substances.” see below:
“We have come to a point where security organisations can longer afford to work in silos. Illicit drug trafficking, as a transnational organised crime, requires the deployment of intelligence and close-knit collaboration with key stakeholders like the Nigerian Navy and other security organisations. In our effort to stem the tide of narcotic drugs, we have gone the extra mile and that includes the pursuit of synergy with organisations in the security sector.”
“This year equally started on an excellent footing. We broke our first quarter operational record with the arrest of over 3,539 suspected drug traffickers (including rogue security personnel and a well-known billionaire baron) and the seizure of more than 65,916 kilograms of drugs.” He stated.
While thanking the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. LEO Irabor and other service chiefs for supporting the nation’s drug war, Marwa expressed appreciation to the Nigerian Navy under the leadership of Rear Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, adding that “I would like to close with the words of Helen Keller: Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much.