The French government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) through enhanced training, capacity building, and logistics. This pledge aims to strengthen the agency’s ability to combat substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking, as stated in a press release signed by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media & Advocacy at NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, on Tuesday, March 4, 2025.
The assurance was made on today, during a meeting between a French delegation, led by Lt. Gen. Regis Colcombet, Director of Security and Defence Cooperation at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, and the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
Lt. Gen. Colcombet stated that the meeting was a follow-up to bilateral agreements reached between French President Emmanuel Macron and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during Tinubu’s recent state visit to Paris. He recalled a previous meeting with Marwa in France two years ago, where similar discussions on NDLEA support were held.
“It’s important for us to be here because it’s now three months after the very successful state visit of your president to France, which has led to significant developments. We’ve been requested to come, develop, follow up, and see how we can further enhance this cooperation. It’s very important,” Colcombet said.
Responding to NDLEA’s requests for additional support, Colcombet assured that, besides tactical training for selected officers across various commands and formations, additional slots would be allocated for NDLEA personnel to receive cyber security training at the French Regional Academy in Côte d’Ivoire. He also emphasized that logistics necessary for implementing these training programs would be provided to the agency.
Brig. Gen. Marwa expressed his appreciation for the strengthening bilateral relationship between Nigeria and France, attributing this growth to the rapport between President Tinubu and President Macron. He noted that this diplomatic goodwill has given NDLEA greater access to collaborations with its French counterparts.
Marwa further highlighted key areas requiring assistance, particularly the need for more personnel training at the French Regional Academy in Côte d’Ivoire in fields such as tactical operations, cyber investigations, and crypto-related investigations.
The French delegation also included Lt. Col. Pierre Yves Dupe, Philippe Baurreau, Colonel Oliver Ductet, and Philippe Crespo. Their visit underscored France’s continued support for NDLEA’s mission to combat drug-related crimes in Nigeria.
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