NDLEA, NPA, Stakeholders Unite in Lagos to Tackle Drug Trafficking, Piracy Threats to Nigeria’s $296bn Blue Economy
LAGOS, April 22, 2026 — Nigeria’s maritime security architecture came under sharp focus as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) convened a high-level stakeholders’ conference in Lagos, bringing together key agencies and international partners to address rising threats of illicit drug trafficking, organised crime, and piracy undermining the nation’s Blue Economy.
At the maiden conference organised by the NDLEA Directorate of Seaport Operations ACG ARCHIEABIA IBINABO fsi and held at Rockview Hotel, security chiefs, maritime regulators, and global partners stressed the urgency of strengthening legal frameworks, intelligence-sharing, and inter-agency collaboration to secure Nigeria’s vast maritime domain.
Representing NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Mohamed Buba Marwa, Ahmadu Garba described maritime security as a “collective crusade,” warning that the Gulf of Guinea remains a major transit hub for transnational criminal networks.
“At the dark heart of nearly every maritime crime lies illicit drug trafficking,” he said, citing estimates that about 80 percent of drugs reaching West Africa pass through the Gulf of Guinea.
Maritime Economy Under Threat
Stakeholders including the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Nigerian Ports Authority, and the Nigeria Customs Service highlighted the growing sophistication of criminal networks exploiting shipping routes for narcotics, arms trafficking, and piracy.
Speaking on behalf of the NPA Managing Director, Abubakar Dantsoho, officials emphasised that Nigeria’s ports remain critical economic gateways but are increasingly targeted by organised crime.
“Maritime trade corridors globally face threats from illicit trafficking, smuggling, piracy, and cyber-enabled offences,” the NPA noted, warning that such activities could erode investor confidence and disrupt legitimate trade flows if left unchecked.
Legal Framework and Reforms
A major focus of the conference was the need to strengthen Nigeria’s legal and institutional frameworks to match evolving criminal tactics. Participants called for harmonisation of maritime, customs, and anti-narcotics laws, alongside faster judicial processes to ensure deterrent sanctions.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, who was represented at the conference by the Special Adviser on Blue Economy, Damilola Emmanuel, described the gathering as “a declaration of national intent” to protect Nigeria’s maritime space from criminal exploitation.
Delivering the Governor’s address, Emmanuel highlighted the strategic importance of the Blue Economy, valued at approximately $296 billion, noting that the sector could contribute over $100 billion annually to GDP if fully harnessed.
He also referenced the impact of the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences (SPOMO) Act and the Deep Blue Project, which have significantly reduced piracy incidents in Nigerian waters, while cautioning against complacency.
NDLEA’s Strategic Response
The NDLEA outlined its shift toward proactive maritime enforcement, including cargo risk profiling, intelligence-led interdictions, and expanded collaboration with both local and international partners.
Recent operations, according to the agency, have resulted in major seizures, including thousands of kilograms of cocaine and billions of tramadol pills intercepted at key ports such as Apapa and Tin Can Island.
The agency also emphasised its dual strategy of supply suppression and demand reduction through public sensitisation campaigns aimed at preventing drug abuse and criminal recruitme
nt.
Call for Stronger Collaboration
Participants unanimously stressed that no single agency can effectively tackle maritime crime alone. Key recommendations included:
Enhanced intelligence sharing across agencies
Joint operational frameworks
Harmonised legal and regulatory systems
Advanced cargo screening and surveillance
Continuous inter-agency training and capacity building
An EU-supported training programme involving NPA, NDLEA, NIMASA, Customs, and other agencies was cited as a model for strengthening operational synergy.
International Dimension
The conference also drew international participation, including a representative of the British High Commission, reinforcing the transnational nature of maritime crime and the need for cross-border cooperation.
Safeguarding Nigeria’s Future
In his closing remarks, Marwa reaffirmed NDLEA’s commitment to securing Nigeria’s waters and dismantling drug trafficking networks.
“The devils may be here,” he said, “but they shall find no harbour in Nigeria.”
Stakeholders agreed that safeguarding the Blue Economy is not only an economic imperative but also critical to national security, environmental sustainability, and social stability.
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