NDLEA Strengthens Maritime Operations with Training of Officers in UK

By: Michael Mike

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has strengthened its maritime surveillance and interdiction capabilities following the successful completion of a week working visit to the United Kingdom by officers from the agency’s Directorate of Seaport Operations.

The six-man team led by Deputy Commander Narcotics (DCN) Aminu Jega, undertook the strategic engagement between 19th and 25th October 2025 under the guidance of Mr. Errol Macdonald of the UK Home Office International Operations, during which they visited key British maritime and border enforcement facilities, where they were exposed to valuable international best practices in maritime intelligence, port security and inter-agency coordination.

The second part of the training on Advanced Container Targeting was conducted for additional 19 NDLEA officers in Lagos between Monday 10th and Thursday 13th November 2025 by HOIO Intelligence team. Both the UK training tour and the Lagos residential five-day training were sponsored by the UK Home Office International Operations.

According to a statement by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA delegation held extensive discussions with officials of the UK Border Force, the National Crime Agency (NCA), Home Office Intelligence, the National Maritime Security Centre, and the Joint Maritime Security Centre in Portsmouth, among others.

He disclosed that during the engagements, the team received comprehensive presentations by the UK National Deep Rummaging Team, which showcased modern techniques and procedures for vessel rummage operations aimed at detecting and preventing illicit drug trafficking through sea routes.

He added that the officers also witnessed live demonstration sessions at Tilbury and Felixstowe Ports, where inward-bound containers from Nigeria were subjected to layered inspection and risk-based screening procedures.

Babafemi said another key highlight of the visit was the introduction and demonstration of the Advanced Sea Searcher System, a state-of-the-art underwater detection technology used for locating concealed contraband and drug consignments beneath ships and port structures. The system’s capacity for high-precision underwater searches was identified as a game-changer in maritime interdiction, offering significant potential for NDLEA’s future operations along Nigeria’s coastal and port environments.

In his post-training presentation to the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), the leader of the delegation Jega noted that the international exposure had deepened his team’s understanding of intelligence-led maritime enforcement, stressing that lessons learnt from the visit would enhance NDLEA’s operational synergy with other maritime and security agencies in Nigeria.

He said: “We were exposed to advanced tools, data-sharing models, and inter-agency coordination frameworks that will significantly improve our maritime intelligence gathering and port surveillance operations. The practical demonstrations we witnessed, particularly in vessel rummage and underwater detection, are invaluable to NDLEA’s ongoing efforts to counter transnational drug trafficking through our seaports.”

In his response, Marwa commended the officers for representing Nigeria well during the training tour. He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to continuous capacity building and adoption of cutting-edge technologies in the fight against illicit drug trafficking.

“Maritime routes remain critical in global drug trafficking networks. Strengthening our officers’ technical capacity and intelligence integration with our international partners is essential to safeguarding Nigeria’s borders. The lessons from this UK engagement will be vital in enhancing NDLEA’s effectiveness in intercepting drug consignments at sea and ensuring safer maritime operations,” Marwa stated.

The NDLEA boss said the agency would continue to deepen collaboration with the UK Home Office International Operations and other global law enforcement partners as part of ongoing efforts to combat transnational organized crime linked to illicit drugs.

NDLEA Strengthens Maritime Operations with Training of Officers in UK

Troops eliminate ISWAP, recover weapons in Borno ambush operation

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have successfully disrupted the movement of ISWAP terrorists in an ambush along the Banki axis of Borno State, recovering weapons and neutralising one terrorist.

Zagazola Makama learnt reliably that the operation was conducted between Nov. 13 and the early hours of Nov. 14.

Sources said the ambush team made contact with terrorists mounted on motorcycles and carrying assorted weapons as they moved from Bula-Daloye towards the Mandara Mountains.

The sources said the troops engaged the terrorists with superior firepower, forcing them to flee in disarray.

“During exploitation of the general area, troops recovered one terrorist corpse, one AK-47 rifle, two AK-47 magazines, and two motorcycles,” he said.

The sources added that an unconfirmed number of fleeing terrorists were suspected to have escaped with gunshot wounds.

The sources confirmed that no casualty was recorded on the part of the troops, and no equipment was lost in the operation.

The operation is part of ongoing efforts by the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation Hadin Kai to deny terrorists freedom of movement and degrade their capability across the theatre.

Troops eliminate ISWAP, recover weapons in Borno ambush operation

2026 Budget: A Logical Step in Gombe’s Upward Growth – Commissioner

By Ben Ngwakwe, Gombe

The Gombe State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Salihu Baba Alkali, has described the 2026 budget presented by Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya as a bold and strategic continuation of the administration’s vision to transform the state into a modern, thriving hub of economic empowerment and security.

Speaking shortly after the presentation of the 2026 Appropriation Bill to the State House of Assembly in Gombe, Alkali said the budget was not merely an annual fiscal ritual but “a powerful statement of intent — meticulously designed to secure the state’s immediate, long-term, and intergenerational well-being.”

According to him, the financial architecture of the 2026 budget “tells a story of developmental ambition,” with a total proposed expenditure of ₦535.69 billion. Of this figure, ₦371.44 billion (69.34%) is allocated to capital projects, while ₦164.25 billion (30.66%) is earmarked for recurrent expenditure.

“This aggressive capital-to-recurrent ratio reflects a government focused on building the future, not just servicing the present. It ensures that the bulk of our resources are channelled into tangible assets and projects that will serve our people for decades to come,” he stated.

The Commissioner highlighted several signature mega projects embedded in the 2026 fiscal plan, including the Three Arms Zone, extensive road dualisation, and the State Industrial Park, describing them as “interconnected components of a master plan” aimed at upgrading the state’s infrastructure and economic capacity.

“The Three Arms Zone will modernise governance, the new road networks will serve as commercial arteries, while the Industrial Park will become the economic engine — attracting investment, creating jobs, and positioning Gombe alongside modern cities like Abuja,” Alkali explained.

He further noted that beyond physical infrastructure, the 2026 budget reflects a deep commitment to human capital development. “Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s administration has ticked all boxes of international best practices,” he said, pointing out that the budget meets the 15% ‘Abuja Declaration’ benchmark for the health sector, reaffirming the government’s commitment to residents’ well-being.

Education, human development, and citizen empowerment also form central pillars of the plan, supported by targeted investments in agriculture and industrialisation to create a synergistic link between agricultural productivity and industrial growth.

Alkali emphasised that the 2026 budget was the product of extensive public consultations, ensuring inclusivity and collective ownership. “Our people were carried along throughout the process. This inclusive approach aligns state priorities with citizens’ needs and fosters trust,” he said.

The Commissioner expressed confidence in the administration’s ability to deliver, noting that Gombe achieved an implementation rate of over 60% in the 2025 budget cycle.

“With that track record, the political will to execute this vision is beyond doubt. The 2026 budget is not just a proposal — it is the next logical step in Gombe’s consistent upward trajectory of growth and development,” Alkali declared.