Buba Marwa, Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), says he recently underwent a surgical operation, IgbereTV reports
Marwa said this on Thursday while addressing journalists after a meeting with some French stakeholders on efforts to fight drug trafficking.
The meeting held at the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja.
When asked after the meeting if he was hospitalised in London for a surgery as rumoured, the NDLEA chairman said he underwent an operation for “long-standing lower back pain” arising from sporting activities during his years in the military.
“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,” he was quoted as saying in a statement by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesman.
While dismissing other insinuations on his absence from office, Marwa said he has since returned to his desk to continue his mission of curbing drug trafficking 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.
Meanwhile, in his remarks at the meeting, Gabriel Pequignot, executive director for Africa, Smiths Detection, said the roundtable was to discuss areas to support the work of the NDLEA.
Smiths Detection is a global firm which provides solutions on detecting threats at airports, ports and borders.
“You are a great partner and we are here to discuss what we can do to support what you are doing,” Pequignot said.
In response, Marwa said support from Smiths Detection “is a very important component of our work”, adding that the NDLEA needs the equipment to “aid our task of drug supply reduction”.
