The Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), on Thursday at the NDLEA National Headquarters, Abuja, met with French experts on drug supply and reduction.
Speaking at the meeting, leader of the delegation and Executive Director, Africa, Smiths Detection, Mr. Gabriel Pequignot, said the meeting was to discuss areas of partnership.
“You are a great partner and we are here to discuss what we can do to support what you are doing”, he stated.
In his response, the NDLEA boss said support from Smiths Detection “is a very important component of our work. We need the equipment to aid our task of drug supply reduction.”
Marwa assured the delegation that, “NDLEA will continue in its stride towards the attainment of its ultimate goal of making Nigeria drug-free and will continue to respond strongly and appropriately to all issues of drug abuse and trafficking.
“While pursuing our drug supply reduction goals, we have intensified the War Against drug Abuse (WADA) campaign across the states of the Federation in pursuit of our drug demand reduction goal.”
Officials of Smiths Detection and their partners at the meeting include Messrs. Gabriel Pequignot; Loic Le Bret; Hani Jaffar; Max Zanoul and Joseph Marc Khoury.
Meanwhile, the Drug Czar used the opportunity to clear some insinuations concerning his health.
He explained that he had to undergo a surgical procedure recently to treat a long-standing lower back pain that affected him during his sporting activities in his younger years in the Nigerian Army.
He disclosed this while responding to questions from journalists after the meeting with the French experts on drug supply reduction and law enforcement.
Marwa told journalists that he was admitted in a London hospital to undergo surgery.
“Indeed, Recently, I had a surgery for long-standing lower back pain that was due to my sporting activities in my younger years in the Nigerian Army.
“Aside from being an avid polo player, I was an active member of the Nigerian Army athletics team in the 1970s when I participated in the long jump and triple jump events and hockey as well.” Marwa said.
He dismissed all other insinuations about his health adding that he had since returned to his desk to continue his vision of strengthening the Agency and the mission of curbing drug trafficking and abuse in the country.
“As we speak, the assignment is on course and that’s the essence of the meeting with officials of Smiths Detection today”, he added.