ABUJA, NIGERIA – Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) have announced a new collaboration aimed at curbing the use of commercial vehicles for drug trafficking across the country. The partnership will involve the deployment of NDLEA officers to transport hubs and drug testing for drivers.
The commitment was made on Thursday, July 24, 2025, during a courtesy visit by NARTO’s National President, Yusuf Othman and other union leaders to the NDLEA’s National Headquarters in Abuja. Mr. Othman praised the NDLEA’s leadership and acknowledged that while NARTO’s vehicles are vital for commerce, they are “occasionally exploited by criminal elements to traffic illicit substances.” He stated that NARTO is “committed to reversing that narrative” and believes collaboration with the NDLEA is “both necessary and urgent.”
To facilitate this partnership, NARTO has proposed several measures, including the sensitisation and training of its drivers to identify and report suspicious cargo or behaviour, the establishment of joint intelligence-sharing mechanisms, and the deployment of NDLEA liaison officers at major NARTO parks and depots nationwide. The union also suggested public awareness campaigns to educate drivers and passengers on the dangers of drug trafficking and abuse. In response, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, assured NARTO of the agency’s full preparedness to work with them. He urged transport owners to conduct thorough background checks on drivers to prevent vehicles from being used for illicit drug trafficking, which could lead to accidents or seizure by authorities.
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