By Nkechi Eze
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has said the donation of a modern canine facility to the agency by the German government will significantly enhance ongoing efforts to curb the menace of illicit drugs in Nigeria.
Speaking at the commissioning of the state-of-the-art dog complex in Ikeja, Lagos, on Friday, September 26, 2025, Marwa commended Germany’s consistent support to the NDLEA, describing the new infrastructure as a milestone that will boost operational efficiency.
“May I assure all stakeholders that the provision of 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 infrastructure at the new NDLEA Dog facility is indeed commendable. It speaks volumes of the commitment, goodwill, and tenacity of our partners,” Marwa declared.
In an official statement signed by NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the chairman praised Germany’s contributions, which he said have translated into the excellent performance of the Canine Unit over the years. He recalled the remarkable seizure of 74.119 kilograms of captagon at the Apapa seaport in Lagos in 2021, citing it as a striking example of how sniffer dogs have aided high-profile interdiction operations.
While acknowledging past challenges, Marwa explained that the new facility will address the developmental and operational gaps that had constrained the NDLEA Canine Unit. “This newly commissioned facility will, without doubt, provide a comfortable and dignified environment that will motivate our Canine Unit personnel to discharge their duties effectively and continue to meet both developmental and interdiction mandates,” he said.
He noted that sniffer dogs have been central to the agency’s successes, contributing to the seizure of over 17.932 metric tonnes of various illicit substances since their deployment. “Everyone who understands the pivotal role of sniffer dogs in drug interdiction will share my sentiment and joy today. 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 added.
Marwa lauded the German government for always standing by the agency in areas of technical support, logistics, and training. He said the construction of the canine facility, which began in August 2024 and was completed on schedule, demonstrated Germany’s steadfast commitment. He expressed appreciation to the German Consul General, Mr. Daniel Krull, as well as personnel of the Liaison Office of the German Federal Criminal Police and their colleagues in Berlin, Saxony, and Sachsen-Anhalt, who worked tirelessly to bring the project to reality.
In his remarks, Mr. Krull emphasised that the success of NDLEA’s operations was not only important for Nigeria but also beneficial to Germany and the wider global community. “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 beyond. It is also important for us in Germany,” the Consul General stated.
He further thanked NDLEA for the trust it had reposed in its German partners, noting that such trust is the most important currency in international cooperation. “We hope that this trust will be so solid that we will have a very fruitful cooperation in the future,” he said.
Also speaking, the Deputy Head of Section IZ14 of the German Federal Criminal Police (BKA) in Berlin, Mr. Florian Bulow, likened the longstanding partnership between NDLEA and Germany to a marriage built on trust and shared values. “Support for NDLEA is one of the longest-reaching projects the BKA has done in police capacity building. If you have such a long cooperation, it’s like in a marriage, it needs love. But love is not everything. You also need trust. You also have to share the same goals and values. And we do that in our fight against drug smuggling and drug abuse. But one of the most important things, you have to work together as a team. And we did that for many, many years. And if you work together as a team and go this long road as a team, you can achieve something. And what we have achieved together is that,” he stated.
The event marked a new phase in the partnership between Nigeria and Germany in combating drug trafficking, as NDLEA continues to strengthen its capacity to protect the country and the region from the scourge of narcotics.
