LAFIAJI SEEKS COOPERATION IN W-AFRICA AGAINST NARCOTICS

CHAIRMAN/CHIEF Executive of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency
(NDLEA) Alhaji Bello Lafiaji has identified cooperation among countries in
West Africa as key to the success of the war against drugs in the
sub-region. He stated this at the graduation of the first international
training course of the NDLEA Regional Academy, Jos saying, "it is only when
we act in concert that the war against drugs can be won. "He described the
course as a boost for the West African Joint Operations Initiative against
drugs currently underway. Alhaji Bello said the course marked the first
concrete step towards actualizing the dream of establishing a regional
training centre which would provide joint training opportunities for
anti-drugs operatives in West Africa and enhance operational collaboration.

He advised the 34 graduates drawn from Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cape
Verde, Gambia and Nigeria, to put what they have learnt during the course
into practice in their respective countries toward raising the
counter-narcotics standard in the sub-region. He thanked the United States
International Narcotics Liaison Service, the United States Drug Enforcement
Administration and other bodies and governments that have made the dream of
upgrading the academy into a regional training centre a reality.

Commandant of the academy, Isah Likita Mohammed said it was gratifying that
international training has successfully taken off at the institution in
pursuance of the goal of regional law enforcement cooperation and
operations. He called for support for this drive from various governments
and agencies urging countries in West Africa to consolidate on the gains of
regional training for their mutual benefit.