DRUG CONTROL: US DONATES N1M TO NIGERIA

Abuja

The United States Government yesterday in Abuja donated the sum of
N156 million ($1.1 million), to the Federal Government for drug
control and law enforcement cooperation activities in the country.

At the signing agreement ceremony between the Federal and US
governments, the Chairman Independent Cor-rupt Practices and other
Related Offenses, Alhaji Mustapha Akanbi also called for assistance
from the American government to help extradite Nigerians who flee to
the US after committing offenses for prosecution.

Signing the agreement for additional funding for "Police Modernization
Activities and NDLEA's Drug Control Activ-ities," Charg'd'Affairs of
the American Embassy, Ambass-ador Roger Meece said yesterday's
agreement has increased US assistance to the Federal Government for
law enforcement programmes to N1.42 billion, ($10million), since 1999.

Stating that the additional assistance was a sign of confidence of
Nigeria's commitment to law enforcement cooperation, Ambassador Meece
also announced that Nigeria had just been "certified for the third
time in a row as a valued partner to promote cooperation in
international law enforcement."

A breakdown of the new assistance reveals that the sum of N79.5
million ($.560 million) was allocated for the expansion of basic
recruitment training to police colleges in Maiduguri, Enugu and Lagos,
N56.8million, ($.400million), for police modernization programmes to
train trainers and officer cadets at the Officer Academy in Kaduna and
N21.3 million, ($.150million), for the NDLEA for training at its Jos
Academy.

Meanwhile, Justice Akanbi, while soliciting assistance from the US
government in the extradition of Nigerians who flee to America for
refuge after embezzling public fund, said only with such cooperation
Nigeria can eradicate corruption effectively from the country.