New NDLEA Canine Complex debuts in Lagos
CHIGOZIE AMADI
Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd ), the Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) has commissioned a newly built canine (dog facility) to NDLEA presented by the German government.
The construction of the facility commenced in August 2024 and was completed as scheduled
Marwa, speaking at the commissioning on Friday in Lagos said that the donation of the canine facility would complement the ongoing fight against the menace imposed by the use of illicit drugs in Nigeria.
“May I assure all stakeholders that this facility will significantly drive our fight against illicit drugs, fulfil our core mandate and secure the future of our nation.
“The quality of the “NDLEA Dog facility” is indeed commendable.
“It speaks volumes of the commitment, goodwill, and tenacity of our partners”, Marwa said.
He commended the German government for its numerous supports to NDLEA, which has translated into an excellent performance by the Canine Unit of the agency over the years.
He cited the remarkable seizure of 74.119kg of captagon at the Apapa seaport in Lagos in 2021 as a striking example of such successful operations aided by sniffer dogs.
He however noted that more effort is required to sustain the current quantum leap in operational excellence.
“This newly commissioned facility will, without doubt, provide a comfortable and dignified environment to canine unit personnel to discharge duties effectively.
” It would assist the agency in it’s pursuance of developmental and interdiction mandates.
“The commissioning of this new “NDLEA Dog Facility” marks a significant milestone in the history of the collaboration between the Agency and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany.
“Everyone who understands the pivotal role of sniffer dogs in drug interdiction will share my sentiment and joy
These canines play a critical role, using their heightened sense of smell to identify and detect concealed narcotic substances in cargo and shipments at our airports, seaports, land borders, courier service centres, and bus stations”, he said.
While buttressing the importance of canines to NDLEA’s successes, Marwa noted that the sniffer dogs have been instrumental to the seizure of over 17.932 metric tonnes of various illicit substances since their deployment in the agency.
“In years past, the poor infrastructure of the NDLEA Canine Unit has limited its capacity to effectively address developmental and operational challenges.
“It is against this backdrop that the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany, through the Liaison Office of the German Federal Criminal Police, intervened to sponsor the construction of a modern dog facility for the Agency.” the Chairman said.
He thanked the German Government for always fulfilling its commitments to the Agency in wide-ranging areas covering technical, logistics, and training support.
In his remarks, Mr. Daniel Krull, the Consul General, said that the success of NDLEA’s operation was not only helping to keep Nigeria safe but also of great benefit to Germany.
“Chairman, I would like to congratulate you for the implementation of this important project, the success and the amazing work of your agency under your leadership.
“My colleagues briefed me that your agency has been very, very successful, instrumental in fighting crime in Nigeria. And that is, of course, not only important for Nigeria, but it is important for the region.
“And it goes far and beyond. It is also important for us in Germany.
“Congratulations for the amazing work and I would encourage all members of the NDLEA to keep up the good spirit and continue the amazing work.
“I would like to thank the chairman and all members of staff for the trust in us and the trust, I think, is what is the most important currency in this international cooperation..
“And we hope that this trust will be so solid that we will have a very fruitful cooperation in the future.” Krull said.
Speaking in same light, Mr Florian Bulow, Deputy Head of section IZ14 BKA, Berlin, said the support for NDLEA was one of the most longest-reaching projects the BKA has done in police capacity building.
Bulow said if you have such a long cooperation, it’s like in a marriage, it needs love. But love was not everything, you also need trust, So if you trust, you can work together.
He said you also have to share the same goals and values., and we do that in our fight against drug smuggling and drug abuse.
He said one of the most important things, you have to work together as a team. And we did that for many, many years.
