A delegation of senior officials from the United States Africa Command (US AFRICOM) has assured the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) of enhanced collaboration and continued support in the fight against illicit drugs, commending the agency’s leadership and international outlook.
The assurance was given on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, during a meeting between the US AFRICOM delegation and the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), in Abuja.
Leading the delegation, Philip Esch, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (US-DEA) Liaison to AFRICOM, described the relationship between NDLEA and the DEA as critical to the interests of the United States government.
“We appreciate all the support and the leadership you provide. Obviously, you know that the relationship between NDLEA and DEA is of utmost importance, and we appreciate the excellent relationship across US law enforcement with you and the NDLEA,” Esch said.
He added that the US government was keen on sustaining the partnership and welcomed the renewal of Marwa’s tenure.
“We want that to continue, and we are very happy that your tenure was renewed for another five years. We really look forward to continued engagement,” he stated.
Another member of the delegation, James Elseth, said the United States was eager to support NDLEA because of the agency’s impact beyond Nigeria’s borders, noting that its operations contribute to broader regional and global security.
“I want to thank you, General, because you have a regional mindset and an international mindset, and that is showing clearly in the scope and impact of your work,” Elseth said.
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He contrasted NDLEA’s approach with that of other agencies focused only on domestic concerns.
“A lot of countries that we work with are only focused on their country. And just like the DEA and FBI, we have an international mindset to try to stop organised crime from impacting our respective countries,” he added.
Elseth also commended NDLEA for the proper maintenance of equipment and facilities previously provided by the US government, assuring that further assistance was underway.
“We are excited about supporting NDLEA because of the tremendous work you are doing. Two major projects are already in the works to further support the agency, in addition to trainings and other forms of assistance,” he said.
Responding, NDLEA Chairman Mohamed Buba Marwa expressed appreciation for the visit and the continued support from US AFRICOM, while also congratulating Esch on his years of service to the United States government.
“We appreciate very much the ongoing support from AFRICOM. I must also say that whatever we are achieving is due to this kind of support from you and our other international partners,” Marwa said.
He further credited the backing of the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu.
“More importantly, it is also due to the commitment and encouragement from the Renewed Hope administration of President Bola Tinubu,” he added.
Marwa urged the US delegation to deepen its support, citing the link between drug trafficking and terrorism.
“We urge you to continue to support NDLEA, especially because of the nexus between illicit drugs and terrorism,” he said.
He outlined specific areas where additional assistance would be valuable.
“We will appreciate more support in scanning equipment at airports, digital forensic tools, portable drug detection equipment, forensic laboratory equipment, sniffer dogs, among others,” Marwa stated.
The meeting reinforced the growing cooperation between NDLEA and international partners as Nigeria intensifies efforts to combat drug trafficking and its associated security threats.
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Boluwatife Enome
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