The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have formalised a major inter-agency collaboration aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s fight against drug trafficking and transnational organised crime.
The agreement was reached during a high-level meeting held on Monday, April 27, 2026, at the NDLEA National Headquarters in Abuja. According to Femi Babafemi, Director of Media & Advocacy at NDLEA, the communiqué was signed by NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), and the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, marking a significant step in fostering joint operational strategies.
Both agencies acknowledged the growing sophistication of transnational criminal networks, particularly in drug trafficking, stressing the need for a unified and intelligence-driven response. Babafemi noted that the framework is designed to reduce operational overlaps, eliminate inter-agency friction, and create a seamless flow of actionable intelligence to preempt criminal activities.
Key elements of the agreement include the establishment of a secure platform for intelligence sharing, the creation of joint task forces at strategic points such as seaports, airports, and land borders, and the constitution of a Standing Inter-Agency Committee to resolve operational disagreements promptly. The communiqué also emphasised respect for the statutory roles and jurisdictions of each agency to avoid undue interference.
Speaking on the development, both Marwa and Adeniyi reaffirmed their commitment to professionalism, mutual respect, and national security. They described the partnership as a critical step towards building a more coordinated and effective enforcement architecture, aligning institutional strengths to create a formidable barrier against drug trafficking while ensuring legitimate trade flows are unhindered.
