Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has said the surgical procedure he recently had was to treat a long-standing lower back pain that was due to his sporting activities in his younger years in the Nigerian Army.
According to a statement issued by NDLEA Spokesman, Femi Babafemi, Marwa stated this while responding to questions from journalists after a meeting with some French experts on drug supply reduction and law enforcement in his office at the NDLEA National Headquarters, Abuja on Thursday 17th March 2022.
When asked if he was admitted to a London hospital to undergo surgery as being rumoured, Gen. Marwa said, “Indeed, I recently had surgery for long-standing lower back pain that was due to my sporting activities in my younger years in the Nigerian Army. Aside from being an avid polo player, I was an active member of the Nigerian Army athletics team in the 1970s when I participated in the long jump and triple jump events and hockey as well.”
Babafemi said while dismissing all other insinuations, the NDLEA boss said he has since returned to his desk to continue his vision of strengthening the Agency and the mission of curbing drug trafficking and abuse in the country.
“As we speak, the assignment is on course and that’s the essence of the meeting with officials of Smiths Detection today,” he added.
Leader of the delegation and Executive Director, Africa, Smiths Detection, Mr. Gabriel Pequignot, who had earlier spoken, said the meeting was to discuss areas of partnership.
He said, “You are a great partner and we are here to discuss what we can do to support what you are doing.”
In his response, Marwa said support from Smiths Detection is a very important component of our work. We need the equipment to aid our task of drug supply reduction.