R-L: U.S. Consul General Francis John Bray; Chairman/Chief Executive, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah; with the Director General of NDLEA Mrs. Roli Bode-George; during the donation of eleven (11) pick-up trucks and transport vans to the NDLEA by the U.S. Consulate in Lagos on Tuesday, May 17, 2016: Photo Credit: U.S. Consulate General Lagos.The United States Government on Tuesday donated eleven pick-up trucks and transport vans to Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to boost the war against drug trafficking in the country.
Since the establishment of the NDLEA in 1990, the U.S. Mission to Nigeria has partnered with the NDLEA and has increased U.S. bilateral assistance for combatting narcotics trafficking in Nigeria.
The U.S. Consulate General in Lagos, in partnership with the U.S. Africa Command (U.S. AFRICOM) and the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, has sponsored over 100 training courses since 2013 for the NDLEA, and trained 1,580 officers as well as supplied equipment worth over ten million dollars to the agency.
“The United States will continue to support the NDLEA and the country of Nigeria to combat the proliferation of drug trafficking and drug abuse. This is a responsibility we share as democratic nations,” said U.S. Consul General Francis John Bray, who handed over the vehicles to the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah in Lagos.
In taking possession of the pick-up trucks and transport vans, the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah expressed optimism that the vehicles will help the anti-narcotics agency in its fight against drug trafficking.
“It is on account of the mentorship and support that we get from the U.S. that we have been able to record some of our successes,” said NDLEA Chairman Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah.
NDLEA Chairman said the cordial working relationship between Nigeria and the United States Government has led to tremendous progress in the fight against Drug Trafficking Organisations (DTO); stressing that the need for deeper collaboration among countries remains significant to the overall success of drug control.
According to Abdallah, “Mr. President is pleased with the impressive scorecard of the Agency resulting from collaboration with the United States and other partners. The recent discovery of a super methamphetamine laboratory in Asaba, Delta State and the arrest of suspected drug kingpins including four Mexicans and Five Nigerians is very encouraging”.