VCN Seeks Expanded NDLEA Partnership as Marwa Unveils Detector Dog Expansion Plan

The Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN) has called for deeper collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), particularly in the areas of recruitment, canine management, public health, and drug control, as both institutions pledged to strengthen ties in the fight against drug abuse and trafficking across the country.

The call was made during a courtesy visit by the President of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria, Professor Mathew Adamu, who led a high-powered delegation to the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja, where they were received by the Agency's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa (Rtd.).

Professor Adamu congratulated Marwa on his reappointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing it as a recognition of the NDLEA boss's leadership and achievements in combating illicit drug trafficking and substance abuse in Nigeria.

Highlighting the existing partnership between both institutions, Adamu commended the NDLEA for creating opportunities for veterinary professionals during previous recruitment exercises and appealed for increased employment slots for veterinarians in future intakes. According to him, veterinary doctors play vital roles in drug detection operations, canine management, public health services, and national security initiatives.

The VCN President also advocated the revival of anti-drug clubs in tertiary institutions, arguing that such platforms would help reduce substance abuse among youths through sustained awareness and behavioural change programmes.

Drawing from his experience as the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Adamu disclosed that the institution had introduced mandatory drug screening for newly admitted students as part of efforts to discourage drug use and promote a healthy learning environment.

He further praised the NDLEA's effective use of trained detector dogs at airports and other strategic locations, noting that the initiative had significantly strengthened the agency's drug interdiction efforts.

Responding, Marwa described the Veterinary Council of Nigeria as a critical professional body whose contributions to public health, national security, and economic development often go unnoticed despite their importance.

The NDLEA Chairman emphasized the need for reliable data collection across the veterinary sector, stressing that quality data remains indispensable for policy formulation, planning, and national development.

Marwa assured the Council of the agency's readiness to deepen cooperation in areas of shared interest, particularly capacity building, canine management, public health interventions, and anti-drug campaigns.

In a significant revelation, he announced plans to expand the deployment of trained detector dogs beyond the country's major international airports to include airports in Port Harcourt, Abuja, Enugu, and Kano as part of efforts to strengthen drug detection capabilities nationwide.

"Dogs remain the last line of action when human capacity has been exhausted. Their unique abilities continue to make them invaluable assets in our fight against drug trafficking and other criminal activities," Marwa stated.

On drug prevention efforts, the NDLEA boss disclosed that the agency had already commenced steps to revive anti-drug clubs in schools and tertiary institutions across the country. He said the initiative would educate young people on the dangers of substance abuse while promoting positive values and responsible lifestyles among students.

The meeting ended with both organisations reaffirming their commitment to closer collaboration aimed at enhancing public safety, strengthening drug control measures, and advancing national development objectives. Senior officials from both the VCN and NDLEA were present at the engagement.