UK partnership with Nigeria on drug war yielding results – Home office

The United Kingdom Government, through its Home Office International Operations, says its collaboration with Nigeria in the fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking is yielding positive results.

Head of UK Home Office International Operations, Victoria Pullen, stated this when she led her colleague, Kristoffer Hawksfield on a visit to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, headquarters, in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the meeting was held to sign a renewed Memorandum of Understanding between HOIO and NDLEA.

Speaking during the visit, Pullen said, ”Results are as evident by the streak of successes being recorded by the NDLEA, in recent times.”

She thanked the NDLEA Chairman, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.) for an “excellent cooperation”.

Pullen said “The issue of drug trafficking is a huge global issue, and like many big challenges such as drug trafficking, it takes a huge global effort to try and counter that.

“I think it’s evident by some of the recent successes and the volume of some of the illicit commodities that your teams are finding that.

“That cooperation is working exceptionally well currently, and we are currently really enjoying working with your team on those successes.

“The willingness of your teams to work with us and do things differently and try things differently, which fortunately is leading to those successes, and we like the way that you’ve worked with the UK and the levels of engagement that we’ve enjoyed with the teams”, she said.

Pullen said that the commissioning of the NDLEA Marine Command Headquarters built and donated by the UK government in Lagos on Wednesday, October 16, was a significant marker in the cooperation between the Agency and HOIO.

“We look forward to seeing the results of that level of investment that will bring significant benefits to you in Nigeria by being able to stop those drugs from permeating your society.

“Also, in the global space because the more that we help you to interdict and take out of the system here, the less that’s going into countries around the world and into society.

“Our team has got nothing but, very positive things to say about the relationship that we have with you and your teams.

“We look forward to the future and building on those and making them a lot better”, she added.

In his response, Marwa expressed appreciation to the UK government for supporting Nigeria’s efforts to curb the scourge of illicit drug trafficking.

This, he said was especially true with the building and donation of a Marine Headquarters facility to the Agency and a similar operational facility at the MMIA Command in Ikeja Lagos last year.

“I am most delighted to meet Ms. Victoria Pullen in person, as it allows me to express profound gratitude on behalf of myself, the agency and the country for the tremendous assistance.

“This includes both tangible and intangible support, that we have received from the Home Office International Operations, in particular, and the British Government in general.

“Just last week, we commissioned the Marine Command Headquarters of NDLEA, built from scratch and donated by the Home Office International Operations.

“We have also received in the past a new CITF facility at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, from the Home Office International Operations.

These are in addition to others like training and intelligence that are vital to our counter-narcotics operations.

“Since we kicked off the reform of NDLEA three years ago, we have enjoyed an increasing partnership with the Home Office International Operations.

“Among our international partners the Home Office International Operations is one of our major partners whose contributions immeasurably enhance the capacity of NDLEA and invariably impact our performance positively”, he emphasised.

Marwa, who asked for more support from the UK government said, “We continue to seek more of your assistance in our quest to combat illicit drug trafficking on our shores.

“We’ll also contribute to our common goal of fighting the activities of transnational criminal organisations.

“The new refreshed MOU, which we are about to sign after the remarks, is a testament to our strong partnership, and we are looking forward to boosting our existing relationship to help us achieve our common and shared responsibility of tackling the drug problem.

“Now, the NDLEA in the last three years or so has made tremendous impacts, and I must say that instrumental to that is the support from the UK.

“We have made, in three years, over 52,000 arrests. We have made seizures of over 8,000 tons of illicit substances and convictions of over 9,000.

“That’s a very significant success in court. Given the volume of traffic of travellers between the UK and Nigeria, there is a need for the sharing of intelligence and actionable data further collaboration in that respect will further strengthen our relationship.

“So, I’m excited that we’re signing a new MoU here today”, he maintained.

NAN