US AFRICOM Pledges Strengthened Support for NDLEA in Fight Against Illicit Drugs
A high-level delegation from the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, met with the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), to discuss enhancing cooperation in combating illicit drugs.
Leading the delegation, Philip Esch, US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Liaison to AFRICOM, praised the longstanding partnership between NDLEA and US law enforcement agencies. He lauded Marwa’s leadership and reaffirmed the US commitment to further collaboration, noting the strategic importance of the relationship for both nations.
“We greatly value the excellent cooperation between NDLEA and DEA, and we are delighted that your tenure has been renewed for another five years. We look forward to continuing this engagement,” Esch said.
James Elseth, another delegation member, highlighted NDLEA’s regional and international impact, commending the agency for addressing organized crime beyond Nigeria’s borders. He also noted the Agency’s effective maintenance of equipment and facilities provided by the US and announced that two major support projects, alongside ongoing trainings, are underway.
Responding, Marwa expressed gratitude for AFRICOM’s continued assistance, attributing NDLEA’s successes to the support of international partners and the administration of President Bola Tinubu. He emphasized the critical link between drug trafficking and terrorism and requested further assistance in the form of airport scanning equipment, digital forensic tools, portable drug detection devices, sniffer dogs, and enhanced forensic laboratory capacity.
“Our achievements are made possible by partnerships like this. We look forward to more support to strengthen our capacity against the growing threat of illicit drugs and its connections to terrorism,” Marwa said.
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