Nigeria and Qatar have deepened their partnership in combating illicit drug trafficking with the symbolic exchange of instruments of ratification between both countries.
The exchange was conducted by the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mohamed Buba Marwa, and the Ambassador of Qatar to Nigeria, Ali Bin Ghanem Al-Hajri.
It follows the historic signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, on March 3, 2024, in Doha. The agreement focuses on cooperation in tackling the illicit trade in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, and their precursors.
Speaking during a brief ceremony at the Qatar Embassy in Abuja on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, Marwa expressed appreciation for the growing partnership between the two nations in addressing a major global threat to public health and security.
He reaffirmed NDLEA’s commitment to working closely with its Qatari counterpart “to protect our people and countries from the threat of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.”
Marwa disclosed that within the last four years, the NDLEA had intercepted over 1,000 kilograms of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, cannabis, and other substances destined for Qatar.
While commending Qatar for its peace-building initiatives and humanitarian interventions through the Qatar Foundation, the NDLEA boss appealed for the Foundation’s support in establishing rehabilitation facilities for the treatment of individuals battling drug addiction in Nigeria.
In response, Ambassador Al-Hajri assured that he would convey the request to the Qatar Foundation. He noted that relations between the two countries have continued to grow stronger, leading to increased travel and cooperation across multiple sectors.
