The Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL), Tobin Bradley, has met with the National Security Advisor, the Minister of Justice, the Inspector General of the Nigeria Police Force, the Minister of Interior, and Chairman of the Police Service Commission, to deepen cooperation between Nigeria and the United States on a range of shared goals, including empowering civilian security, advancing criminal justice reform and strengthening judicial systems.

Other law enforcement agencies that Bradley met during the visit were the Nigerian Correctional Service, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

A statement made available by the Public Affairs Section, U.S. Diplomatic Mission to Nigeria, to Daily Independent on Wednesday, said that the visit, which took place between September 3 and 9, underscored the United States’ strong commitment to working with international partners to combat insecurity and develop innovative solutions to advance criminal justice reform.

In Keffi, Nasarawa State, Bradley visited Keffi Correctional Facility where INL funded the implementation of a case management system to help address pre-trial detention challenges in Nigeria.

The statement noted that during his visit to Abuja, Bradley also met with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to discuss how the United States could continue to support Nigeria’s efforts to advance human trafficking investigations and prosecutions.

“At the Magistrates’ Court Wuse Zone 2 in Abuja, DAS Bradley learned how INL-funded transcription software is helping courts more efficiently complete administrative tasks to expedite case processing and court judgments.”

The U.S. Mission stated: “On behalf of the United States, DAS Bradley signed over equipment to the NDLEA to help reinforce counter-narcotics interventions in Nigeria,” adding that Bradley discussed ways INL could work with the EFCC to fight cross-border financial crimes and support the rule of law by holding individuals and organizations accountable for financial misconduct.

The statement noted that DAS Bradley met with local partners, including the Partners West Africa Network (PWAN), Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), Network of University Legal Aid Institutions (NULAI), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) to commend them on their continued work with INL to advance the United States’ and Nigeria’s shared goals on improving criminal justice and strengthening rule of law.