The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has inaugurated the Agency’s first specialised Train-the-Trainer Course on Weapon Handling at the NDLEA Academy in Jos, Plateau State, marking the formal induction of tactical firearms into the Agency’s operational architecture for the first time in its 36-year history.
According to an official signed statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, the training programme, inaugurated on Monday, is aimed at enhancing the Agency’s operational capability in confronting increasingly armed and violent drug trafficking organisations.
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Colonel Murtala Aminu, Brigadier General Marwa described the initiative as a major milestone driven by the evolving dynamics of Nigeria’s anti-drug campaign.
He stated that drug trafficking organisations have become heavily armed, highly organised and increasingly violent, making it imperative for NDLEA personnel to receive the necessary equipment and professional training to protect themselves while carrying out their statutory responsibilities.
“The nature of the war we fight has evolved,” Marwa said, noting that the programme is not merely about deploying firearms but about preserving lives and strengthening the operational effectiveness of the Agency.
The NDLEA Chairman expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unwavering support in enhancing the Agency’s operational capacity, describing the President’s leadership as instrumental to the Agency’s recent successes in combating illicit drug trafficking.
He also commended the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for facilitating the initial supply of firearms and ammunition, which enabled the commencement of the training programme.
Providing an update on the procurement process, Marwa disclosed that the acquisition of the weapons, initiated in 2023 through the China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO), has reached its final stage. He revealed that thousands of AK-47 rifles, advanced pistols and ammunition are expected to arrive shortly, with a comprehensive accountability and distribution framework already approved.
He added that the Agency is collaborating with the Nigerian Air Force to ensure the strategic airlift and nationwide distribution of the weapons to NDLEA commands across the country.
Marwa explained that the ongoing course is designed to produce pioneer master trainers selected on merit from various commands. Upon completion, the participants will return to their respective commands to conduct a compulsory one-month weapons handling training programme for all NDLEA personnel before the firearms are deployed for operational use.
He urged the participants to uphold the highest standards of discipline, professionalism and ethical conduct, stressing that weapons handling demands responsibility, restraint and strict adherence to the rule of law and established rules of engagement.
The NDLEA Chairman also emphasised that safety must become an institutional culture rather than a procedural requirement, warning that negligence in the handling of firearms would not be tolerated.
Expressing satisfaction with the Agency’s transformation in recent years, Marwa said the NDLEA has evolved into a more professional, capable and formidable institution in the fight against drug trafficking, recording unprecedented drug seizures, dismantling criminal networks and bringing traffickers to justice.
He described the induction of tactical firearms into the Agency’s operational inventory as the beginning of a new chapter that will further strengthen national security and enhance the NDLEA’s capacity to combat organised drug crime across Nigeria.
