Nigeria and Qatar have strengthened their partnership against illicit drug trafficking with the symbolic exchange of instruments of ratification between the two countries.
Naijaonpoint reports that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Director, Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Tuesday, revealed that the exchange was made by the Chairman of the agency, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) and the Qatar Ambassador Ali Bin Ghanem Al-Hajri.
The exchange between Nigeria and Qatar followed the historic signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between President Bola Tinubu and the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, on March 3, 2024, in Doha, for cooperation in combating illicit trade in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, and their precursors.
Speaking at a brief ceremony at the Qatar Embassy in Abuja on Tuesday, October 7 2025, Marwa expressed appreciation for the partnership between the two countries in addressing a major threat to public health and security globally.
According to him, within the last four years, NDLEA had intercepted over 1,000 kilograms of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, cannabis and others heading to Qatar.
Marwa assured that the NDLEA remains committed to collaborating with its counterpart in Doha “to protect our people and countries from the threat of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.”
While commending the Qatari government for its peace-building efforts and tremendous humanitarian work worldwide through the Qatar Foundation, the NDLEA boss sought the Foundation’s support in providing rehabilitation facilities for the treatment of individuals struggling with drug addiction.
In his response, Ambassador Ali Bin Ghanem Al-Hajri assured Marwa that he would present the request to the Qatar Foundation, adding that the partnership between the two countries and the number of travels have significantly improved.
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