Nigeria’s anti-drug campaign has received a boost as the United States government funds new audiovisual interrogation facilities for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The facilities were officially handed over in Abuja on Monday by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which implemented the project with support from international partners.
UNODC Country Representative in Nigeria, Cheikh Toure, said Nigeria has become less permissive to transnational drug cartels due to sustained enforcement efforts by the NDLEA.
He described drug trafficking as a major global threat, noting that it fuels corruption, violence, and exploitation while destroying communities.
Toure said Nigeria’s strategic location makes it a key target for international criminal networks, but commended the NDLEA for reversing the trend through intensified operations.
He praised the leadership of NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa(retd), noting that since 2021 the agency has strengthened enforcement, increased drug seizures, and expanded prevention and treatment programmes.
According to him, the outcome has sent a strong signal to drug cartels that Nigeria is no longer a safe operating environment.
He also thanked the United States government for funding the project, describing it as an investment in transparency, justice, and institutional strengthening.
In his remarks, Marwa said the new facilities mark a major step in the agency’s digital transformation and investigative reforms.
He explained that the NDLEA is not just commissioning rooms but upgrading the integrity of its investigative process through modern technology.
Marwa added that the equipment would improve professionalism, enhance transparency, and strengthen collaboration with international partners.
He further assured that officers would maximise the tools provided to improve operational efficiency and maintain global best practices in criminal justice.
