US donates vehicles to NDLEA

The United States Government on Tuesday donated 11 vehicles to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency to enhance it operations.

The US Consul-General in Lagos, John Bray, said at the handing-over ceremony in Lagos that the donation was to strengthen the agency’s efforts at fighting drug trafficking and abuse.

Bray said: “The donation of these 11 vehicles is to enhance the agency’s operations.

“We believe that combating drug trafficking and abuse in this country is the responsibility we share as democratic nations.

“This is again to say that the US will continue to support the NDLEA and Nigeria in combating drug trafficking and abuse.”

The consul-general, who noted that drug trafficking had become a transnational crime, commended the NDLEA for the successes it had recorded so far.

Bray said the US Government had continued to partner with the agency since its inception in 1999.

Bray said his government had since 1999 supported the agency’s capacity building programmes and provision of equipment, including computers, drug analysers, scanners and tracking machines.

The NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, retired Colonel Muhammad Abdallad, commended the US Government’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in the fight against drug trafficking and abuse.

Abdallad said “like Oliver Twist”, the agency would still need more of the US Government’s assistance in the discharge of its responsibilities.

Abdallad said the menace of drug trafficking had become a global problem that would require the involvement of everybody to be eradicated.

The director General of the NDLEA, Roli Bode-George, who said she had also personally benefited from US capacity building programmes, also commended the US commitment to the fight against drug trafficking.

Bode-George said the agency would ensure the “judicious use” of the donated Toyota 2.7WT.i Hilux trucks and buses in its day-to-day duties.