Nigeria and Qatar have reinforced their collaboration in the fight against illicit drug trafficking following the formal exchange of instruments of ratification between the two countries. The exchange was conducted in Abuja by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), and Qatar’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Ali Bin Ghanem Al-Hajri.
This development follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on March 3, 2024, in Doha, between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The MoU focuses on cooperation in combating the illicit trade in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, and their precursors.
Speaking during the brief ceremony at the Qatar Embassy in Abuja, Marwa commended the growing partnership between Nigeria and Qatar, describing it as a vital alliance against a major global threat to public health and security. He reaffirmed the NDLEA’s commitment to sustained collaboration with Qatari authorities to protect both nations from the dangers of substance abuse and drug trafficking.
Marwa revealed that over the past four years, NDLEA operatives had intercepted more than 1,000 kilograms of illicit substances—including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and cannabis—destined for Qatar. He also praised Qatar’s peace-building initiatives and humanitarian efforts through the Qatar Foundation, calling for its support in establishing rehabilitation centers for individuals recovering from drug addiction in Nigeria.
In response, Ambassador Al-Hajri pledged to convey Marwa’s request to the Qatar Foundation, noting that relations between both nations have significantly improved, as evidenced by the recent increase in travel and bilateral engagements.
Source:Africa Publicity
