Nigeria and Qatar have strengthened their collaboration in the fight against illicit drug trafficking with the exchange of instruments of ratification between the two countries.
The ceremony took place in Abuja on Tuesday at the Qatar embassy, where Buba Marwa, chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Ali Bin Ghanem Al-Hajriand, Qatar’s ambassador to Nigeria, exchanged documents ratifying a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed last year.
The MoU, signed on March 3, 2024, in Doha by President Bola Tinubu and Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, focuses on cooperation to combat illicit trade in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, and their precursors.
Marwa expressed appreciation for the partnership between the two countries against a major threat to public health and security globally.
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He assured that the NDLEA remains committed to collaborating with its counterpart in Doha “to protect our people and countries from the threat of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking”.
The NDLEA chairman said over the past four years, the agency intercepted more than 1,000 kilograms of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, cannabis, and other drugs heading to Qatar.
While commending the Qatar government for its peace building efforts and tremendous humanitarian work across the world through the Qatar Foundation, Marwa sought the support of the foundation in the area of provision of rehabilitation facilities for the treatment of people struggling with drug addiction.
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In response, Al-Hajri assured that the request would be presented to the Qatar Foundation and noted the growing partnership between the two countries, emphasising increased travel and cooperation.
