Nigeria and Qatar have strengthened their partnership in combating illicit drug trafficking through a significant milestone: the symbolic exchange of instruments of ratification between the two nations.
This development follows a meeting between National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Chairman/CEO, retired Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, and Qatar Ambassador Ali Bin Ghanem Al-Hajri, at the Qatar Embassy in Abuja on Tuesday, October 7.
The exchange followed the historic signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, on March 3, 2024 in Doha, on cooperation on combating illicit trade in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors.
The NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, said in a statement given to Persecondnews on Tuesday, October 7, in Abuja that, during the ceremony, Marwa expressed appreciation for the partnership between the two countries in addressing a significant threat to global public health and security.
Marwa assured that the NDLEA remains committed to collaborating with its counterpart in Doha “to protect our people and countries from the threat of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.”
He noted that in the last four years, NDLEA had intercepted over 1,000 kilograms of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, cannabis and others heading to Qatar.
While commending the Qatar government for its peace building efforts and tremendous humanitarian work across the world through the Qatar Foundation, the NDLEA boss sought the support of the Foundation in the area of provision of rehabilitation facilities for the treatment of people struggling with drug addiction.
In a brief remarks, Amb. Al-Hajri assured Marwa that he would present the request to the Qatar Foundation.
He noted that the partnership between the two countries had improved significantly, which had recently led to an increase in travel between Nigeria and Qatar.
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