By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The United Kingdom Home Office International Operations (HOIO) has facilitated diverse training sessions for Marine Command and Seaports Operations for at least 35 officials of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the agency announced on Saturday.
The training which the agency says took place in recent weeks, covers boat handling, weapons handling, riverine operations, boarding and vessel search, among many others.
The NDLEA’s Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, in a statement said out of this number, five are currently undergoing a two-week Maritime Patrol and Tactical Coxswain training by the UK’s Central Maritime Training Unit based in Southampton.
The trainings, according to the HOIO, are to enhance the border control capabilities of the NDLEA by providing specialised training, mentoring and advanced drug detection equipment, Babafemi said.
The ongoing two-week training of five marine officers including their first female coxswain will enable them to plan maritime deployments, pursue, stop and board vessels on the high seas,he added.
The agency says some of the training sessions have been facilitated by the British Military, Nigerian Navy and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) under the Global Maritime Crime Programme (GMCP).
While thanking the UK government for its continued support and commitment in helping the NDLEA to enhance its capacity and capabilities to tackle drug trafficking,
Chairman/Chief Executive of the Agency, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), while thanking the UK government for its continued support and commitment in helping the NDLEA to enhance its capacity and capabilities to tackle drug trafficking, appealed to the officers to remain steadfast in their professional calling and ensure they bring to bear the essence of the training on their formations and colleagues.
He assured them that he will continue to prioritise training and retraining for all officers, men and women of the Agency, the state added.
