US to sponsor training for Nigeria’s NDLEA

Simon Ateba/Lagos

The United States government will fund twenty-seven training courses for Nigeria’s narcotic officers in 2014, the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, said on Wednesday.

NDLEA said the announcement was made by Mr. Mark Huebschman, the United States Deputy Chief, Counter-narcotics and Law Enforcement Division, Africa Command.

The US envoy who spoke during a working visit to the agency’s headquarters Ikoyi, Lagos, western Nigeria, said the training is his country’s assistance to Nigeria’s fight against drug trafficking.

“The United States will fund twenty-seven training courses for the NDLEA in 2014. This will cover senior leadership, middle cadre as well as tactical training. Our training advisor in Nigeria will work with the agency in developing the training schedule. It is an elaborate training and we hope to enlist the support of willing international partners,” Mark was quoted as saying.

Receiving the United States delegation, the Director General of the NDLEA, Femi Ajayi, thanked the United States government for their continuous support for Nigeria’s counter-narcotics campaign.

According to Ajayi, the threat of drug trafficking is increasing by the day and the discovery of five methamphetamine laboratories Nigeria recently is disturbing.

“The fact that methamphetamine seizures are still being made at the airports is an indication that there might be more of such laboratories. This calls for greater collaboration among nations,” he said.

Ajayi appealed to the envoy to further assist the NDLEA in the area of advocacy.

“We are thankful for the scanners and technical support provided by your government to the agency. Let me also seek your assistance in the area of advocacy. This will encourage more governments, institutions, donor organisations and individuals to partner with us in addressing the problem of illicit drugs. We are currently doing more with less resource,” Ajayi said.

The US envoy was accompanied by Michael Burner, training advisor for West Africa. Others are, Amon Killeen and Ellen Kitt both of the US Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Counter-narcotics and Global Threats.