The visit, which took place on February 25, 2026, provided a platform for strategic engagement between the NDLEA and the Nigerian Navy, aimed at deepening operational synergy and improving coordinated responses to emerging security challenges within the maritime domain.
During discussions with the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abdullahi Abubakar Mustapha, both parties underscored the importance of enhanced intelligence sharing, joint maritime patrols, and strengthened interdiction operations to disrupt drug trafficking networks operating along Nigeria’s waterways and coastal areas.
They also highlighted the need for sustained collaboration in tackling organised criminal syndicates that exploit maritime routes for illicit activities, noting that closer cooperation between security agencies remains critical to safeguarding national security and economic interests.
The engagement further focused on measures to address drug abuse among personnel through targeted sensitisation campaigns and internal monitoring frameworks. Both leaders stressed that maintaining discipline and promoting drug-free environments within their respective organisations were essential to operational effectiveness and institutional integrity.
The NDLEA and the Nigerian Navy reaffirmed their commitment to sustained collaboration, capacity building, and joint operations aimed at protecting Nigeria’s maritime space and curbing the flow of illicit drugs into the country.
The visit marks another step in strengthening the partnership between both agencies as they work collectively to counter evolving threats in the maritime sector.
