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UAE Assures NDLEA of Support, Partnership, Commends Marwa Over Drug War
UAE Assures NDLEA of Support, Partnership, Commends Marwa Over Drug War
By: Michael Mike
The government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has assured the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) of support and stronger partnership while commending the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd) for providing excellent leadership that has led to streaks of operational successes in the fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria.
The assurance and commendation were conveyed when the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Salem Saeed Musabbeh Alshamsi paid Marwa a courtesy visit at the agency’s National Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
The Ambassador said: “I’m here to appreciate your hard work and the great leadership you have provided the NDLEA. We have been following your achievements very closely, and I must say you have done very well and still doing excellent job. We follow all the good work that you’ve been doing, especially all the drugs you’re seizing and blocking from coming to the UAE and we’re so proud of your achievements and that’s why we’re here to deepen our cooperation with your agency in the area of fighting drug trafficking. The UAE looks forward to working more closely with Nigeria on drug enforcement matters.”
While extending an invitation to Marwa to visit his counterpart in UAE and the Dubai Police leadership for further engagements, the envoy expressed the readiness of his government to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NDLEA on areas of collaboration with the agency.
“We need to exchange information about drug dealers, and all of their activities. We are here to help and to support you, especially on this matter. It’s very important that we have a very great communication between the UAE and Nigeria especially now that the relationship between United Arab Emirates and Nigeria has become one of the best. If there is any other thing I could do to support the great work you’re doing here, please do not hesitate to ask me and I’ll be available and willing to do it in appreciation of your great leadership. Our mission is to be here for you, assist and support you”, the Ambassador stated.
In his response, Marwa expressed appreciation to the envoy for his kind words on his person and the work of NDLEA, while also commending the developmental strides in UAE. He praised the Ambassador’s years of dedicated service and the huge leap in trade and movement between Nigeria and UAE in the last two years, which he said is in line with the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“I’d like to acknowledge the strong diplomatic relations between our two countries that have continued to grow stronger every year. And Your Excellency has just told us now the latest in billions of dollars in non-oil trade and this is something that we welcome very much in Nigeria because the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda wants to achieve not just peace and stability, but prosperity for all Nigerians. The drug scourge is universal, both the trafficking of it and the abuse of it and there’s a need for collaboration between nations to achieve solutions on this. And in Nigeria, the NDLEA is the agency that is tasked with the control of illicit drugs in the country.”
Marwa noted that in the last four years, the agency had intercepted a total of 302.202 kilograms of assorted illicit substances going to the UAE either at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos or some courier companies in Lagos.
As the largest anti-narcotics agency in Africa, Marwa said NDLEA partners all leading drug law enforcement agencies across the world. “We welcome the collaboration between NDLEA and our counterparts in UAE, we’re also willing to honour the invitation to visit UAE for collaborative discussions and sign the MoU”, he assured the envoy.
UAE Assures NDLEA of Support, Partnership, Commends Marwa Over Drug War
Troops Foil Armed Robbery, Clear Highway in Plateau
By Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sector 4, Sub-Sector 41, Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), have foiled an attempted armed robbery along the Barkin Ladi–Bokkos road in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred at about 9:00 p.m. on August 11, 2026, when troops deployed at the Kurra Junction Check Point responded to a report of suspected armed robbers blocking the highway.
The criminals had reportedly blocked the road in an attempt to rob motorists and other road users.
The troops swiftly mobilised to the location, forcing the suspected robbers to abandon their criminal operation and flee into the surrounding rocky hills.
The troops subsequently cleared the highway and restored the free flow of traffic along the route.
Security personnel have continued to dominate the general area through robust patrols to prevent the criminals from regrouping and to deny other criminal elements freedom of action.
Troops Foil Armed Robbery, Clear Highway in Plateau
Zulum calls for a shift from tractor ownership to modern agricultural services
By: Michael Mike
Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has called for a fundamental shift in Nigeria’s approach to agricultural mechanisation, stressing that the country must move beyond simply purchasing tractors to a more productive and modern, investment-driven agricultural system.
Zulum made the call while speaking at a High-level National Policy Dialogue on Agricultural Mechanisation organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in Abuja on Wednesday.
The Governor identified low productivity, limited technology, inadequate investment and weak value chains as major challenges facing Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
He emphasised that mechanisation should be delivered as a service, giving farmers timely access to land preparation, precision farming, irrigation and other modern agricultural technologies.
Commenting on Borno’s agricultural transformation initiatives, Zulum noted that massive investment by his administration in agriculture is central to rebuilding livelihoods and restoring communities affected by insecurity and displacement.
Zulum highlighted a four-pronged approach to agricultural mechanisation in Nigeria, including mechanising agriculture to increase productivity and reduce drudgery, digitalising agriculture to improve precision, intelligence, and efficiency, regenerating agricultural resources to ensure long-term sustainability, and investing in infrastructure, technology, and enterprises that will drive the transformation.
Zulum also called for stronger private-sector participation and innovative financing for local manufacturing and assembly of agricultural machinery, irrigation, renewable energy, storage, processing, value addition and youth- and women-led agricultural businesses.
He emphasised that Nigeria must not simply recreate the agriculture of yesterday, but build the agriculture of tomorrow, which should be modern, smart, climate-resilient, productive and inclusive.
The goal, he said, is to build an agricultural economy capable of feeding the nation, competing globally, creating jobs and delivering sustainable prosperity to rural communities.
The Governor was accompanied by the member of the House of Representatives, Engr Bukar Talba; Commissioner of Local Government and Emirates Affairs, Sugun Mai Mele; CEO/Managing Director of the Borno Investment Company, Mohammed Bukar Umar; and Permanent Secretary, Government House, Mustapha Ali Busiguma.
Zulum calls for a shift from tractor ownership to modern agricultural services
Troops Intercept 40 Cattle Over Alleged Farm Destruction in Plateau
By Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sector 4, Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), have intercepted 40 cattle following a report of farmland destruction around the BCA area of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
A military source told Zagazola Makama that the troops responded to the report at about 4:00 p.m. on August 11, 2026, and mobilised to the affected area.
Upon arrival, the troops found 40 cattle grazing on the farmland, while the herders fled after sighting the security personnel.
The livestock were subsequently moved to a safe location to prevent further damage and facilitate the resolution of the incident.
Efforts are currently underway to identify and locate the owners of the cattle for further necessary action.
The intervention is part of ongoing security efforts in Plateau State to prevent farmer-herder disputes from escalating and protect agricultural communities from illegal grazing and related conflicts.
Troops Intercept 40 Cattle Over Alleged Farm Destruction in Plateau
Troops Foil Armed Robbery, Clear Highway in Plateau
Zulum calls for a shift from tractor ownership to modern agricultural services
Troops Intercept 40 Cattle Over Alleged Farm Destruction in Plateau
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