NSA Commends Customs, NAFDAC, NDLEA for United Front Against Illicit Drugs
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, has lauded the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for their joint efforts in combating illicit drugs and substandard pharmaceuticals in Nigeria.
At a commendation ceremony held in his office in Abuja, Ribadu recognised the leadership of the three agencies for their unwavering commitment and collaborative success in a landmark operation that resulted in the destruction of 206 containers and a trailer-load of unwholesome pharmaceutical products and narcotics.
The event also marked the successful conclusion of a complex review involving 50 containers under investigation. Ribadu hailed the inter-agency collaboration as a model for national security cooperation, describing it as a turning point in Nigeria’s war against drug trafficking and importation of harmful substances.
“This is an acknowledgment of the good work you’ve been doing,” the NSA declared. “Nigeria is changing. It won’t be business as usual anymore. We’ll go after the criminals who bring these poisons into our country.”
In his remarks, Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, noted that the Nigeria Customs Service had earlier declared a state of emergency on the trafficking of illicit pharmaceuticals.
He emphasised that the synergy between the agencies – underpinned by the NSA’s support – enabled swift detection, confiscation, and destruction of dangerous imports.
“We are stronger together,” Adeniyi affirmed. “And we will remain vigilant to ensure these substances never make it into the wrong hands.”
Director-General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, echoed the sentiment, affirming that the operation aligns with Nigeria’s National Action Plan on Drug Abuse and Illegal Pharmaceutical Trade.
She revealed that more than 1,300 security personnel had been deployed nationwide under the NSA’s directive to assist NAFDAC, NDLEA, and Customs in their enforcement efforts.
“These unregistered and unwholesome products are a danger to our women and children,” she warned. “Our continued collaboration with Customs and NDLEA is saving lives.”
The NDLEA, represented by Shadrac Haruna, acknowledged the strategic value of the inter-agency committee initiated by the Comptroller-General of Customs.
He said the committee had significantly boosted efforts to remove illicit drugs from communities and dismantle illegal storage facilities.
In appreciation of their contributions, plaques and letters of commendation were presented to the heads of the three agencies—the CGC, the DG of NAFDAC, and the Chairman of NDLEA (represented). Ribadu, in turn, received a Certificate of Destruction symbolising the nation’s firm resolve to rid its territory of harmful substances.
The occasion not only celebrated operational success but also reinforced Nigeria’s resolve to protect public health and national security through inter-agency cooperation and sustained enforcement.
