The French government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the operational capabilities of Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) through increased support in training, capacity building, and logistics. This initiative aims to bolster the agency’s ongoing efforts in combating substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.
The assurance was given during a high-level meeting on Tuesday at the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja between a French delegation, led by Lt. Gen. Regis Colcombet, Director of Security and Defence Cooperation at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, and NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd).
Lt. Gen. Colcombet stated that the meeting served as a follow-up to bilateral agreements reached during the recent state visit of President Bola Tinubu to France, where he engaged with President Emmanuel Macron on various areas of cooperation, including security and counter-narcotics efforts. He also recalled a similar engagement with Marwa in France two years ago, which laid the foundation for France’s support to the NDLEA.
“It is important for us to be here, especially as it has been three months since President Tinubu’s successful visit to France, which has led to significant developments. We have been tasked with advancing and further strengthening this cooperation,” Colcombet noted.
Addressing specific areas of support, Lt. Gen. Colcombet assured that selected NDLEA officers across various commands and formations would receive specialized training in tactical operations. Additionally, personnel slots would be allocated for cybersecurity training at the French Regional Academy in Côte d’Ivoire. He also confirmed that the French government would provide logistical support to facilitate the practical implementation of these training programs.
In response, Brig. Gen. Marwa expressed appreciation for the growing partnership between Nigeria and France, which he attributed to the strong rapport between President Tinubu and President Macron. He highlighted the benefits of this collaboration for NDLEA, particularly in fostering deeper ties with its French counterparts. Marwa also outlined additional areas where support is needed, including enhanced manpower development, tactical operations training, and expertise in cyber and cryptocurrency investigations.
The French delegation included Lt. Col. Pierre Yves Dupe, Philippe Baurreau, Colonel Oliver Ductet, and Philippe Crespo. Their visit underscores France’s sustained commitment to assisting Nigeria in addressing drug-related challenges and reinforcing law enforcement capabilities.
