NDLEA enhances airport operations with advanced training for officers
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA
Abdullateef Fowewe
Some selected commanders and officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have completed a series of training sessions on the Advanced Passenger Information System and passenger targeting/intelligence gathering.
This training according to a statement on Friday by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi is part of the agency’s efforts to improve its operational capabilities at major airports across the country.
Babafemi explained that the training, facilitated by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime took place in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and Abuja.
He expressed that the workshops were aimed at enhancing the ability of the agency’s airport commands to identify and intercept high-risk passengers, cargo, and mail, thereby supporting efforts to combat illicit drug trafficking.
The training also focused on improving communication and coordination between countries of origin, transit, and destination, aiming to disrupt cross-border criminal networks.
Babafemi stresses, “While the Commander of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Strategic Command of NDLEA, ACGN Usman Ali Wadar and his counterpart at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja, CN Mohammed Ajiya participated in the six-day training in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, 13 other officers drawn from the MMIA and NAIA Commands took part in the five-day training that held in Abuja. They are all expected to impact the knowledge and skills acquired during the sessions on their other colleagues.
“The trainings were funded by the European Union, Australia, Canada, France, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States under the AIRCOP Airport Communication Project, implemented by the UNODC.
“Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended the facilitators: Ms. Fabienne Russel of UNODC and Anderson Leme Siqueira of Brazilian Customs Administration for taking their time to be in Abuja for the training after the engagement in Abidjan.
“He equally praised the two NDLEA Commanders and other officers who participated in the Abijan and Abuja training sessions for their interest and commitment. He charged them to immediately reflect the new skills and tools in their operations across the international airports in the country.”
