The government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has pledged to strengthen its partnership with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), commending the agency’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), for his exemplary leadership and sustained success in combating drug trafficking and abuse in Nigeria.
The assurance was given by the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Salem Saeed Musabbeh Alshamsi, during a courtesy visit to Marwa at the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
Ambassador Alshamsi lauded Marwa’s leadership and the NDLEA’s achievements, noting that the UAE has closely followed the agency’s operations and successes. “We have been following your achievements very closely and I must say you have done very well. We are proud of your accomplishments, particularly in intercepting drugs destined for the UAE,” he said. “We look forward to deepening cooperation with your agency in the fight against drug trafficking.”
He further revealed that his government is ready to formalize collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the NDLEA and extended an invitation to Marwa to visit the UAE for discussions with his counterparts and Dubai Police leadership.
“We need to exchange intelligence on drug dealers and their operations. The UAE is ready to assist and support you in any way possible. Our mission is to build stronger communication and cooperation between our two countries,” the envoy added.
In response, Marwa expressed appreciation for the ambassador’s visit and commendation, while acknowledging the UAE’s rapid development and strong bilateral ties with Nigeria. He noted that the growing partnership aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at fostering peace, stability, and prosperity.
“I’d like to acknowledge the strong diplomatic relations between our two countries, which have continued to grow stronger every year,” Marwa said. “The drug problem is a universal challenge that requires cooperation among nations, and the NDLEA remains committed to partnering with global counterparts to combat illicit drug activities.”
Marwa disclosed that in the past four years, the NDLEA has intercepted over 302.2 kilograms of illicit substances bound for the UAE through airports and courier services in Lagos.
He assured that the NDLEA is ready to formalize cooperation through the proposed MoU and strengthen operational ties with the UAE in intelligence sharing and joint enforcement.
