A delegation of top officials from the United States Africa Command has met with the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd), and assured the agency of stronger cooperation and continued support in the fight against illegal drugs.
Naija News reports that the meeting took place on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, and focused on the long-standing working relationship between NDLEA and US authorities.
The delegation praised the level of cooperation already in place and expressed readiness to deepen the partnership to tackle drug trafficking and related crimes.
The team leader, Philip Esch, who serves as the United States Drug Enforcement Administration liaison to AFRICOM, described the relationship between NDLEA and the US-DEA as very important to the US government.
He noted that the agency values Marwa’s leadership style and his openness to working with international partners, adding that the US looks forward to continued engagement following the renewal of his tenure.
Another member of the delegation, James Elseth, said the US was pleased to support NDLEA because of the agency’s impact, not only within Nigeria but beyond its borders.
He explained that NDLEA’s work contributes to wider regional and global security, noting that the agency operates with a broad outlook that aligns with the approach of international law enforcement bodies working to stop organised crime.
Elseth also praised NDLEA for properly maintaining equipment and facilities earlier provided by the US government.
He revealed that two major support projects were already underway and would complement ongoing training programmes and other forms of assistance being offered to the agency.
In his response, Marwa thanked the delegation for the visit and acknowledged the steady backing NDLEA has received from US AFRICOM over the years.
He also congratulated Esch on his long and dedicated service to the US government.
Marwa said the progress recorded by NDLEA has been made possible through support from international partners and the backing of the current administration under President Bola Tinubu.
He stressed the link between drug trafficking and terrorism and appealed for more assistance in areas such as airport scanning machines, digital forensic tools, portable drug detection devices, forensic laboratory equipment and sniffer dogs.
The meeting reaffirmed the commitment of both parties to strengthen cooperation in addressing drug-related threats and improving security within Nigeria and across the region.
