Nigeria and Qatar have strengthened their partnership in combating illicit drug trafficking following the exchange of instruments of ratification between the two countries.
The exchange was carried out by Buba Marwa, chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and Ali Bin Ghanem Al-Hajri, the Qatar ambassador to Nigeria, during a brief ceremony at the Qatar Embassy in Abuja on Tuesday.
The development follows the historic signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between President Bola Tinubu and Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, 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 event, Marwa expressed appreciation for Qatar’s collaboration in addressing what he described as a major threat to public health and global security.
“The NDLEA remains committed to working closely with our partners in Doha to protect our people and countries from the threat of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking,” he said.
Marwa disclosed that in the last four years, the agency had intercepted over 1,000 kilograms of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, cannabis, and other drugs destined for Qatar.
While commending the Qatar government for its peacebuilding and humanitarian efforts through the Qatar Foundation, Marwa appealed for the foundation’s support in providing rehabilitation facilities for the treatment of persons struggling with drug addiction in Nigeria.
Ali Bin Ghanem Al-Hajri assured Marwa that he would present the request to the Qatar Foundation.
He added that the partnership between Nigeria and Qatar has continued to improve, noting that it has also resulted in an increase in the number of travels between both countries.
