APM Terminals Apapa has reaffirmed its commitment to combating drug abuse and trafficking by partnering with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The collaboration is aimed at curbing the inflow of illicit drugs through Nigeria’s major seaports, particularly Apapa and Tin Can Island, and was part of activities marking the 2025 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
This year’s global theme, “The Evidence Is Clear: Invest in Prevention, Break the Cycle,” emphasizes tackling the root causes of drug abuse through education, healthcare, justice reform, and social development. It also calls for dismantling organized criminal networks profiting from drug trade.
Representing APM Terminals at the event, Health and Safety Executive Emmanuel Uko declared the company’s full support for the anti-drug campaign. “At APM Terminals, we say: let’s break the cycle. We stand firmly with the NDLEA. This is not just about corporate social responsibility — we witness the real impact when port users operate under the influence,” he stated.
Uko added that the company maintains a strict zero-drug-and-alcohol policy and is committed to reviewing internal protocols while deepening cooperation with the NDLEA to enhance port safety. “This issue goes beyond compliance. It’s about saving lives and protecting our workforce,” he concluded.
Speaking at the same event in Apapa, Assistant Comptroller General of Narcotics, Buba Wakawa — who heads the NDLEA Apapa Strategic Command — described the event’s theme as a perfect match for the agency’s flagship campaign, War Against Drug Abuse (WADA), initiated by NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd).
Wakawa revealed that the Apapa Command had intercepted 14 containers of banned psychotropic substances in the past year. These included 744,635 bottles of codeine-based syrup and 36,652,460 tramadol tablets, weighing a combined 132 tonnes. “That’s nearly 36 million tramadol tablets that never reached our streets — a massive win for public health,” he said, crediting the success to strong inter-agency collaboration.
He stressed that the fight against drugs must involve everyone. “Drug traffickers are our shared enemies. They threaten our security and target our youth. No one is insulated from the effects of drug abuse,” Wakawa warned.
Also contributing, the Commander of NDLEA’s Tin Can Strategic Command reported that over 30 tonnes of illicit substances — including amphetamines, cocaine, tramadol, and codeine — were confiscated in the past year. He highlighted international cooperation with partners in Brazil, Malaysia, Canada, and the UK to track and intercept drug shipments.
He further noted the significance of maritime intelligence: “We depend on accurate cargo manifests and collaborate with port operators and shipping lines to flag and stop suspicious consignments before they enter the country.”
The event underscored the urgent need for a united front — combining government enforcement with private sector advocacy — to invest in prevention and build safer, drug-free communities.