The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), on Friday commissioned a new canine complex in Lagos, describing it as a major boost in Nigeria’s war against narcotics.
The modern facility, located in Ikeja, was built and donated by the German government through its Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA). According to Marwa, the new centre would “significantly drive our fight against illicit drugs, fulfil our core mandate and secure the future of our nation.”
He praised the quality of the infrastructure, noting that it underscored Germany’s “commitment, goodwill and tenacity” in supporting Nigeria’s anti-narcotics agency.
Marwa recalled that German support had been critical to NDLEA’s successes over the years, citing the 2021 seizure of 74.119kg of captagon tablets at Apapa seaport in Lagos, an operation that relied heavily on the agency’s sniffer dogs.
“The commissioning of this dog facility marks a significant milestone in the collaboration between the Agency and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany,” he said. “Sniffer dogs play a critical role, using their heightened sense of smell to identify and detect concealed narcotic substances in cargo and shipments at our airports, seaports, land borders, courier service centres, and bus stations.”
He revealed that canines had been instrumental in intercepting over 17.9 metric tonnes of illicit drugs since their deployment, but admitted that poor infrastructure had long limited the NDLEA’s capacity. The new complex, completed on schedule after construction began in August 2024, he said, would provide a “comfortable and dignified environment” for canine handlers and boost interdiction efficiency.
In his remarks, German Consul General in Lagos, Mr. Daniel Krull, stressed that NDLEA’s operations were not only vital for Nigeria but also for Germany and the wider international community.
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“The success and the amazing work of your agency under your leadership is important for Nigeria, important for the region, and it goes far beyond—it is also important for us in Germany,” Krull told Marwa. “Trust is the most important currency in this international cooperation, and we hope that trust will remain solid so we will continue to have a fruitful partnership.”
Also speaking, Mr. Florian Bulow, Deputy Head of Section IZ14 at the BKA headquarters in Berlin, likened the decades-long collaboration with NDLEA to a marriage.
“If you have such a long cooperation, it needs love. But love is not everything—you also need trust. And if you trust, you can work together. You also have to share the same goals and values. And we do that in our fight against drug smuggling and drug abuse,” Bulow said.
The NDLEA boss thanked the German government, the BKA, and their teams in Berlin, Saxony and Sachsen-Anhalt for what he called “tireless work” in delivering the project.
The canine unit, Marwa said, remains one of the most critical divisions of the agency, with a proven track record in interdiction and enforcement. He urged NDLEA personnel to remain motivated and committed to sustaining the momentum against drug cartels.
Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, confirmed the commissioning in a statement from Abuja on Friday.
