The Chairman/CEO of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), has stressed the importance of ongoing training for personnel to effectively combat the drug menace. Marwa made this statement at the closing ceremony of a two-week training program on international drug trafficking for NDLEA officers, sponsored by the German government.
The training program, which was held at the Agency’s headquarters in Abuja, was attended by top NDLEA officials and German instructors, including a representative from the German embassy. Marwa emphasized that “to tackle the drug challenge, the number one priority, obviously, is the professionalism of the human resources, which you can only achieve through training.”
The two-week training program, organized by the German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), covered core areas including principles of crime scene investigations and training in West Africa Police Investigation System (WAPIS). The 23 participants, drawn from various departments of the Agency, were engaged in classroom work, presentations, and practical exercises for the duration of the program.
Marwa appreciated the German government’s support, saying “we appreciate deeply the gesture of supporting the NDLEA with the right training for combating international drug trafficking.” He noted that the canine unit supplied and funded by the Germans has been very effective in critical cases such as the discovery of the Captagon shipment in Lagos Port in 2021.
The representative of the German embassy, Ms. Uduak Abasi Akpabio, also appreciated the work of the NDLEA, describing it as “a critical pillar in safeguarding Nigeria’s stability, security, and wellbeing of its citizens.” She added that “by investing in the capacity of these officers, you have strengthened not only Nigeria’s fight against drug trafficking but also the global framework for combating this menace.”
Marwa congratulated the participants, saying “to those who have been trained today, congratulations. You are quite lucky to receive this calibre of training from the BKA, one of the world’s most efficient institutions on criminal policing.”
He emphasized the importance of taking full advantage of the training, saying “you have to remember that German training in any respect is at its peak globally. Count yourselves lucky that you are beneficiaries of training from BKA and you have to take full advantage of it and let’s see it on the ground.”
The ceremony featured the presentation of certificates to the participants. The BKA liaison officer in Nigeria, Dominik Muller, presented a donation of kits and resources for substance testing to the agency, while the NDLEA also presented plaques and mementos to the trainers in appreciation of their efforts.
