By Nkechi Eze
In a move to bolster inter-agency synergy in Nigeria’s maritime domain, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command (WNC), Rear Admiral MG Oamen, Grand Service Star, on Tuesday, 6 August 2025, received the Director of Seaport Operations, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Assistant Commander General of Narcotics (ACGN) Archie-Abia Ibinabo, on a courtesy visit to the Command’s headquarters in Apapa, Lagos.
The high-level engagement was aimed at deepening cooperation between the Nigerian Navy and the NDLEA, particularly in intelligence sharing and coordinated maritime operations to combat illicit drug trafficking through Nigeria’s seaports and coastal corridors.
During the visit, ACGN Ibinabo underscored the growing importance of collaboration between security and regulatory agencies, noting that the menace of drug smuggling via maritime routes remains a persistent national security threat. She lauded the Navy’s pivotal role in safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime borders and expressed profound appreciation for the Western Naval Command’s ongoing partnership with the NDLEA.
“Combating the flow of narcotics through our seaports is not a task we can tackle alone,” she remarked. “The Nigerian Navy has been instrumental in providing the security backbone for our maritime interventions, and we look forward to deepening this collaboration with even more robust intelligence sharing and joint operations.”
Responding, Rear Admiral Oamen welcomed the NDLEA team and commended the Agency for its relentless fight against drug trafficking and abuse. He assured ACGN Ibinabo of the Navy’s unflinching support in all efforts to secure Nigeria’s maritime environment and dismantle criminal networks exploiting the seaports.
“The Nigerian Navy values inter-agency cooperation as a strategic pillar in the fight against maritime crimes,” Rear Admiral Oamen stated. “We are fully committed to working hand in hand with the NDLEA to ensure that Nigeria’s territorial waters and seaport facilities do not serve as conduits for drug trafficking or any form of criminal enterprise.”
The visit concluded with the ceremonial exchange of souvenirs between the two senior officials, a symbolic gesture of mutual respect and a reaffirmation of both institutions’ shared commitment to national security.
