Nigeria and Qatar have taken a major step forward in their joint fight against drug trafficking with the formal exchange of ratification documents between both nations. The event took place in Abuja, led by the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), retired Brigadier General Buba Marwa, and Qatar’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Ali Bin Ghanem Al-Hajri.
The agreement builds on a Memorandum of Understanding signed in March 2024 between President Bola Tinubu and the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani. It focuses on closer cooperation to combat the trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, and related chemicals.
Marwa praised the partnership as a strong commitment to tackling one of the world’s most serious threats to health and security. He revealed that the NDLEA had intercepted over 1,000 kilograms of illicit drugs — including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and cannabis — destined for Qatar in the last four years.
He also commended Qatar for its global peace-building and humanitarian initiatives, appealing to the Qatar Foundation to assist Nigeria with rehabilitation facilities for people struggling with drug addiction.
In response, Ambassador Al-Hajri promised to relay Marwa’s request to the Foundation and expressed satisfaction with the growing cooperation between both countries. He reaffirmed Qatar’s readiness to continue working with Nigeria in promoting stability, security, and shared prosperity.