UK Home Office offers £1m to NDLEA with promise of further funding over the next three years

BRITAIN has agreed to provide £1m worth of funding support to Nigeria's National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in 2022 with additional funding over the next three years as part of a programme to assist the body in its fight against narcotics.

Founded in 1990, the NDLEA was established to help Nigeria fight the trade in illicit drugs as well as combat the menace of fake pharmaceuticals. To assist with this fight, the UK has decided to come up with this new funding plan, which it hopes will strengthen the NDLEA in the war on drugs.

Nick Fowler, the director of the UK's Home Office International Operations, visited the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja yesterday, where he met with its chairman Retired Brigadier Buba Marwa. Mr Fowler was accompanied by the Home Office International Operations' Africa regional director Julie Hartfree and the West Africa Regional Manager Kris Hawksfield.

NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi, revealed that Mr Fowler commended Brigadier Marwa for the huge success the agency has become under his leadership. He added that Mr Fowler said the agency has been able to play a significant role by intercepting loads of illicit drugs going to the UK and assured that his office is now well positioned to share intelligence with the NDLEA.