By Nkechi Eze
Nigeria and Qatar have taken a major step forward in their joint fight against illicit drug trafficking with the formal exchange of instruments of ratification of their bilateral agreement on narcotics control. The symbolic exchange was performed between the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), and the Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Nigeria, Ali Bin Ghanem Al-Hajri, in Abuja on Tuesday, October 7, 2025.
According to a statement signed by the Director of Media and Advocacy of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, the exchange followed the historic signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, on March 3, 2024, in Doha. The agreement focuses on cooperation to combat the illicit trade in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, and their precursors.
Speaking at the ceremony held at the Qatar Embassy in Abuja, General Marwa commended the strengthening partnership between the two countries, describing it as a timely and strategic alliance against a global menace that threatens public health and security. He reaffirmed the NDLEA’s commitment to sustaining close collaboration with Qatar’s relevant authorities in combating drug trafficking and substance abuse.
“This partnership is a shared responsibility to protect our people and countries from the threat of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking,” Marwa said. “In the last four years, the NDLEA has intercepted over 1,000 kilograms of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, cannabis, and other dangerous drugs heading to Qatar. This underscores the importance of our continued cooperation.”
While acknowledging Qatar’s global humanitarian leadership and peace-building efforts through the Qatar Foundation, Marwa appealed for the Foundation’s support in establishing rehabilitation and treatment facilities for people battling drug addiction in Nigeria.
“Beyond enforcement, the NDLEA is also deeply committed to rehabilitation and reintegration,” Marwa added. “We look forward to Qatar’s support in building and equipping rehabilitation centres that will give new hope to victims of drug dependence.”
In his response, Ambassador Ali Bin Ghanem Al-Hajri praised the ongoing collaboration between both nations and assured that Marwa’s request for rehabilitation support would be presented to the Qatar Foundation.
He also noted the steady growth in bilateral relations and people-to-people exchanges between Nigeria and Qatar, reflecting a deepening partnership rooted in mutual respect and shared commitment to global stability and security.
“The partnership between our two countries has continued to grow stronger,” the envoy stated. “We are witnessing increased cooperation and travel between our peoples, which is a testament to the friendship and mutual trust that exists between Nigeria and Qatar.”
The ceremony marks another milestone in the implementation of the 2024 Nigeria-Qatar anti-drug cooperation agreement, reinforcing both nations’ determination to curb the global narcotics trade and promote health, safety, and prosperity for their citizens.
