NDLEA Launches Historic Firearms Training Programme After 36 Years

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has taken a significant step toward strengthening its operational capacity with the commencement of a specialised weapon handling training programme for its officers at the NDLEA Academy in Jos, Plateau State. The initiative marks the formal induction of AK-47 rifles and advanced pistols into the agency’s operational framework for the first time since its establishment 36 years ago.

The training, inaugurated on June 29, 2026, by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), represents a major shift in the agency’s approach to combating increasingly sophisticated and violent drug trafficking networks. Marwa, represented by his Chief of Staff, Colonel Murtala Aminu, described the programme as a critical milestone in enhancing the safety, professionalism, and effectiveness of NDLEA personnel nationwide.

NDLEA Begins New Era of Tactical Preparedness

Speaking during the inauguration of the Train-the-Trainer Course on Weapon Handling involving AK-47 Rifle Type 56-1 and HS-9/CF98A pistols, Marwa said the evolving nature of drug trafficking in Nigeria has made it necessary for the agency to improve its tactical capabilities. According to him, drug trafficking organisations have developed into highly organised and heavily armed criminal networks, increasing the risks faced by NDLEA officers during operations.

He stressed that equipping personnel with modern firearms and providing comprehensive professional training is intended primarily to safeguard the lives of officers while enabling them to effectively protect the public. Marwa noted that the initiative is not simply about introducing weapons into operations but about ensuring that officers possess the necessary skills, discipline, and ethical standards required for responsible firearm handling.

The NDLEA Chairman also acknowledged the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose administration he credited with strengthening the agency’s operational capacity. He further commended the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for facilitating the timely provision of an initial consignment of firearms and ammunition, enabling the immediate commencement of the training programme.

Thousands of Firearms to Be Deployed Following Nationwide Training

Marwa disclosed that the procurement of the firearms began in 2023 through the China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) and has now reached its final phase. According to him, thousands of AK-47 rifles, pistols, and accompanying ammunition are expected to be delivered shortly, with detailed accountability and distribution mechanisms already approved by the agency.

To ensure efficient nationwide deployment, the NDLEA is partnering with the Nigerian Air Force to transport the newly acquired equipment to commands across the country. The agency believes the coordinated logistics plan will facilitate timely operational readiness while maintaining strict accountability over the distribution of the firearms.

The ongoing programme in Jos is designed to produce the agency’s first group of certified master trainers. Selected from commands nationwide based on merit, these officers will return to their respective formations to conduct compulsory one-month weapon handling training for all operational personnel before the firearms are officially deployed for field operations.

Professionalism, Discipline and Accountability at the Centre of Reform

Addressing the pioneer participants, Marwa emphasised that they carry the responsibility of establishing the professional standards that will define firearm use within the NDLEA. He described them as the foundation upon which the agency’s future operational culture would be built, urging them to lead by example when they return to train other personnel.

He instructed participants to uphold discipline, make firearm safety a permanent culture rather than a procedural requirement, and exercise sound judgement in every operational engagement. According to him, technical proficiency must always be accompanied by ethical responsibility, restraint, and strict adherence to the rule of law and approved rules of engagement.

Marwa further expressed satisfaction with the transformation the NDLEA has recorded in recent years, highlighting unprecedented drug seizures, the dismantling of criminal syndicates, and the successful prosecution of traffickers. He stated that the induction of tactical firearms represents another important chapter in the agency’s continued evolution into a more capable institution dedicated to protecting Nigerians and strengthening national security.