US agency hands over funded interrogation rooms to NDLEA

The United States government, through its Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, has funded the provision of modern audiovisual interrogation rooms to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s fight against drug trafficking.

The facilities were handed over in Abuja on Monday by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime which implemented the project.

A statement by the NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, the UNODC Country Representative in Nigeria, Cheikh Toure, said Nigeria was no longer a permissive environment for international drug cartels due to the agency’s intensified enforcement efforts in recent years.

“Transnational drug trafficking remains one of the most destabilizing forces of our time; it fuels corruption, funds violence, destroys communities, and exploits the most vulnerable,” he said.

Toure noted that Nigeria’s strategic location had made it both a target and transit hub for global criminal networks, but commended the leadership of the NDLEA for reversing the trend.

“Under the strong and visionary leadership of Brig Gen Buba Marwa (retd), NDLEA has demonstrated remarkable courage and professionalism in confronting these networks. Since his appointment in 2021, the agency has significantly strengthened enforcement, increased major seizures, and expanded prevention and treatment initiatives.

“The result has been clear: it has sent very strong messages to transnational criminal organizations because Nigeria is no longer a permissive environment,” he said.

He expressed appreciation to the United States government for funding the project, describing it as an investment in transparency and the rule of law.

“To our partners in the United States, your investment goes far beyond bricks, cables, and cameras—it is an investment in the idea that a stronger, fairer, and more transparent Nigeria is a safer Nigeria,” Toure said.

In his remarks, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), thanked the US-INL and UNODC for supporting the agency’s operations.

“We are not just commissioning rooms; we are upgrading the integrity of our investigative process. The NDLEA is currently at an advanced stage of digital transformation, and the provision of these state-of-the-art facilities brings us into the future of law enforcement,” he said.

Marwa described the handover as timely, noting that it aligns with the agency’s push toward full digitalisation of its processes.

“This facility ensures we remain in lockstep with our international partners. More importantly, it reinforces our commitment to transparency, our extant laws, and global best practices in criminal justice,” he said.

He added that the equipment would enhance investigative capacity and improve professionalism in handling suspects.

“For our officers, this means better tools for the job. For the public, it means a more transparent and professional agency. We promise not just to use this equipment, but to master it,” Marwa said.