NDLEA Boosts Airport Operations With Advanced Training Programs

Selected Commanders and officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have completed intensive training in Advanced Passenger Information System (API) and Passenger Targeting/Intelligence Gathering, aiming to enhance operational efficiency at Nigeria’s major airports.

Facilitated by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and held across two locations: Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and Abuja, the training workshops were tailored to equip participants with skills to identify and intercept high-risk passengers, cargo, and mail.

According to UNODC, the initiative also aims to strengthen cross-border collaboration by improving communication between countries of origin, transit, and destination, thereby disrupting illicit drug trafficking and associated criminal networks.

Commanders Usman Ali Wadar of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) and Mohammed Ajiya of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) participated in the six-day training session in Abidjan.

Additionally, 13 officers from MMIA and NAIA Command attended the five-day Abuja workshop. They are expected to disseminate their newly acquired knowledge among their colleagues, fostering a ripple effect of improved expertise across the agency.

The training programs were funded by an array of international partners, including the European Union, Australia, Canada, France, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The initiative was conducted under the AIRCOP Airport Communication Project, implemented by UNODC, a global effort to combat transnational organized crime at airports.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), lauded the facilitators, Ms. Fabienne Russel of UNODC and Anderson Leme Siqueira of Brazilian Customs Administration, for their dedication. He expressed appreciation for their efforts, particularly their presence in Abuja following the Abidjan sessions.

Marwa also commended the commitment of NDLEA officers who participated in the trainings, urging them to immediately integrate their newly acquired skills into their operations across the nation’s airports. “This knowledge is pivotal in our ongoing fight against drug trafficking,” Marwa emphasized, adding that such initiatives are integral to NDLEA’s broader strategy to maintain operational excellence.

Impact on Nigeria’s Aviation Security
The series of training underscores NDLEA’s commitment to combating illicit drug flows and protecting Nigeria’s borders. The initiative aligns with global best practices and the agency’s strategic goals, ensuring enhanced surveillance capabilities and improved response to drug-related threats.

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