New Headquarters Represents Recalibration of NDLEA says Marwa

By Oluwakemi Kindness

The Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Retired Brigadier General, Mohamed Buba Marwa, says the relocation of the agency to its headquarters in Jahi Abuja represents a phase in the transformation and recalibration of NDLEA into a modern and result-oriented anti-narcotic Agency, a process that began in January 2021.

The facility, which is the first phase of the national headquarters project expected to be completed with the 2025 budgetary provisions, was officially unveiled during an interdenominational service within the complex on Wednesday in Abuja.

General Marwa, while speaking during the relocation said this will enable the agency relocate some of it directorates still operating outside Abuja into one facility to consolidate itt operations for efficiency, effectiveness and seamless coordination.

“I’m glad we have finally moved in to occupy this facility after initial budgetary constraints. Even though this is the first phase of the new headquarters project, we are hopeful that we will be able to complete the process with next year budget”.

“This is not 100% completed but it is sufficiently functional for us to move in because I was determined to move in before the end of 2024 because with the expansion of the Agency the headquarters also expanded, and in our old location we could not accommodate everyone. I have had to post out scores of officers due to lack of space for them to work”.

According to a statement by the Spokesperson of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, Marwa, the old head office in Gimbiya, Garki, FCT, will continue to serve as the headquarters annex.

The NDLEA boss expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his continued support and encouragement to the Agency to be in a position to achieve its mandate of curbing substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the country.

“The support we are getting from our international partners and local stakeholders especially President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly, the Judiciary and the citizenry, is not just to appreciate our efforts but to encourage us to do more and I believe this new work environment will motivate you to surpass past feats”, Marwa told a crowd of excited management staff, officers and men of the Agency at the ceremony”.

He commended his predecessor for starting the process of getting a befitting headquarters for the Agency.

In his welcome remark, Secretary to the Agency, Shadrach Haruna, commended Marwa for providing inspiring leadership that has in three years transformed NDLEA into the same class with its counterparts across the world in terms of professionalism, capability and capacity.

END