Sir: The fight against illicit drugs in Nigeria has been persistent, intensified, and increasingly impossible to ignore. Over the years, the federal government, through the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has implemented several measures aimed at reducing both drug demand and supply. While notable progress has been made, emerging patterns, particularly the strong link between drug abuse and gambling, continue to pose serious challenges.
Various strategies have been deployed to curb drug trafficking and abuse. Drug supply chains and trafficking routes have been disrupted and tighter regulations and monitoring mechanisms have been introduced to prevent recurrence. These efforts have led to the interception of major drug routes and the arrest of key drug dealers, significantly reducing the availability of illicit substances in many areas. Despite these achievements, drug demand remains a major concern, especially when addiction progresses to dependence.
A critical issue complicating the situation is the close relationship between illegal drug use and gambling. In today’s digital age, drug users are often exposed to gambling platforms within the same online environments where illicit substances are promoted or discussed. Gambling, in many cases, becomes a means of generating funds to sustain drug use and maintain addiction. This cycle is particularly common among individuals already struggling with dependency.
Stress, personal challenges, unemployment, and persistent overthinking are major contributors to the initiation and continuation of drug use. These pressures can push individuals toward substance abuse as a coping mechanism. Over time, this dependence may expand into gambling addiction, especially when financial difficulties arise. Gambling is often perceived as a quick solution to money problems, but it typically worsens the situation.
Drug use and gambling tend to reinforce each other, creating a dangerous cycle. Drugs may be used to cope with gambling losses or emotional distress, while gambling is used to finance drug consumption. Gradually, both behaviours become normalized as temporary “feel-good” solutions. Unfortunately, this normalization masks the long-term damage being done.
The NDLEA has consistently played a vital role in addressing this crisis by raising awareness through various media platforms about the harmful effects of drug abuse and its impact on overall well-being. Public education remains a powerful tool in discouraging substance abuse and promoting healthier coping mechanisms.
While Nigeria has made commendable progress in disrupting drug supply and enforcing regulations, addressing drug demand and its link to gambling addiction remains critical. A holistic approach that combines enforcement, mental health support, public awareness, and rehabilitation is essential. By tackling both drug abuse and gambling together, Nigeria can reduce their combined impact and promote a healthier, more resilient society.
Amid growing concerns over drug abuse, cultism, and electoral violence, the Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ-Africa) has unveiled its 2026 strategic plan aimed at promoting non-violent elections and advancing sustainable development across the Niger Delta and other parts of Nigeria.
The plan was presented during the unveiling of the organisation’s Strategic Partnership Work Plan in Ugolo, Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State, on Wednesday.
Addressing reporters, the National Coordinator of CEPEJ, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, stressed the urgent need to curb the rising incidence of drug abuse, cultism, and other social vices among young Nigerians, particularly pupils and secondary school students, warning that the trend poses a serious threat to peace, education, and national development.
Mulade said the organisation’s 2026 agenda places strong emphasis on early awareness campaigns in schools and communities to address the menace and safeguard the future of young people.
As part of efforts to deepen democratic governance, CEPEJ also announced the rollout of a Non-Violent Election Programme, which will feature civic and voter education, deployment of election observers, training of election peace monitors, and multi-stakeholder dialogues aimed at promoting peaceful, credible, and transparent elections.
The organisation noted that elections should not degenerate into violence, adding that voter education and peace monitoring would help reduce election-related tensions and encourage tolerance among political actors.
According to CEPEJ, the 2026 work plan will be implemented in more than 15 states, including Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Ondo, Lagos, Kano, and the Federal Capital Territory. The interventions will span peacebuilding, education, climate action, sports development, youth and women empowerment, governance, and humanitarian support.
A major highlight of the plan is CEPEJ’s decision to re-present proposals for the establishment of State Peacebuilding Commissions in Delta, Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Ondo, and Akwa Ibom States, aimed at institutionalising conflict prevention and sustaining peaceful coexistence.
“Peacebuilding must go beyond projects. We are re-engaging state governments to establish Peacebuilding Commissions that will strengthen stability, attract investors, and create employment opportunities for youths,” he said.
Other key initiatives include the Niger Delta Peace Support Fund, Back-to-School Educational Support Fund, climate and environmental awareness programmes, youth and women skills acquisition training, ethnic peace and unity football tournaments, ADR mediation centres, and humanitarian support for IDPs and disaster-affected communities.
CEPEJ stressed that these programmes are critical to improving livelihoods, reducing violence and building resilience, especially in the Niger Delta, where environmental degradation, unemployment and insecurity continue to threaten development.
CEPEJ also called on the Delta State Government to prioritise industrialisation as a pathway to economic growth and food security.
“For Delta State’s economy to grow, we need deliberate industrialisation backed by reliable electricity. Industrial growth will create jobs, boost food security, and reduce poverty and restiveness,” the CEPEJ boss stressed.
The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to working with government, development partners, traditional institutions and communities through communication, collaboration and co-operation, to ensure the successful implementation of the 2026 plan.
In its quest to curtain the menace of drug abuse amongst the teeming youth population across the state, the International Society for Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP), Calabar Chapter, have since began a sensitisation campaign, in Calabar, Cross River State capital.
The campaign is coming against the backdrop of a recent interception of ten tons of cannabis in Biase Local Government Area, by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
Justifying the need for the intervention, Ruth Ekeng, one of the Coordinators of ISSUP, said the move aims to safeguard the just concluded 2025 Calabar Carnival, in partnership with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to wage an intensive war against drugs along major carnival routes.
During the exercise, the NDLEA Deputy Commandant in Calabar, Mrs. Nanny Uba, revealed that the interception of four tons of cannabis in the Biase Local Government Area just days before the festivities, was a significant victory against illicit drugs.
Uba, while commending Governor Bassey Otu for his proactive stance against substance abuse, specifically lauded the State Drug Control Committee recently inaugurated by the First Lady, Bishop Eyoanwan Otu, who is spearheading efforts to establish a modern rehabilitation facility for the successful reintegration of victims into society.
The Chairperson of ISSUP Calabar, Mrs. Blessing Randolph, emphasised that the campaign’s presence on the carnival routes is part of a broader mission to professionalise prevention and treatment, stating that their essence is to keep Cross River State drug-free by providing the public with direct access to global standards of recovery.
Supporting this mission, advocacy leader Mr. Matthew Anake detailed a strategic grassroots approach that includes targeted outreach to market women, churches, schools, and transport unions like Keke riders.
This inclusive communication strategy utilises native languages and Pidgin English to ensure the message resonates at the grassroots level while offering direct pathways to ISSUP professionals for those in need of evidence-based treatment.
From the marble terraces of Maitama to the glimmering penthouses of Lekki and the tranquil enclaves of Asokoro, Nigeria’s elite enclaves pulse with quiet elegance. The air smells of fresh flowers and imported perfumes, generators hum like distant lullabies, and gates open to homes adorned with grace and gold. But beneath this tranquil surface lies a growing darkness – an invisible malaise gnawing at the soul of privilege.
In the quiet, manicured lanes of Abuja’s high-brow Asokoro district, Ilya, a security guard remembers the night he heard the crash.
“I thought it was a burglary,” he recalls softly. “But it was madam who had fallen. She was alone in the living room, and a bottle rolled from her hand.”
The ‘maiguard’ did not speak again of that night. In the homes of the powerful, silence is often part of the job description. But whispers travel.
Just recently, the stormy whispers surrounding billionaire Senator, Ned Nwoko and his actress wife Regina Daniels cracked open the hidden world of drug use in some affluent homes. Amid accusations of domestic violence came a counter-claim – that the young wife was allegedly battling substance addiction and had rebuffed attempts at rehabilitation.
It peeled back a layer of a growing, uncomfortable truth: substance abuse is quietly seeping into Nigeria’s affluent homes — hidden behind high walls, concealed by status, and worsened by stigma.
While the truth behind their personal turmoil remains contested, it has drawn national attention to a sobering reality: drug abuse has quietly climbed the walls of Nigeria’s mansions.
For the sake of current and future generations, all sections of society now have a challenge that requires being frontally tackled by all stakeholders
It is a growing, if hushed, epidemic. For years, the image of drug addiction in Nigeria has been confined to slums and street corners – young men clutching sachets of codeine-laced syrup or tramadol pills, the faces of unemployment and despair.
But psychiatrists, rehabilitation workers, and even domestic staff in upscale neighbourhoods across Nigerian cities say a different demographic is quietly emerging: wives of the wealthy, privileged teenagers, and middle-aged professionals whose lives, on the surface, glitter with success.
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Nigeria remains Africa’s largest consumer of illicit substances, with over 14.3 million people estimated to have used drugs in the past year. That figure – about 14.4 per cent of Nigeria’s adult population – is nearly triple the global average.
While most reports focus on young, unemployed males, newer data from NDLEA and mental health clinics suggest a subtle but steady rise in prescription drug abuse among women in high-income brackets. Startlingly, women account for about 20% of UNODC’s estimates of 15 million Nigerians between ages 15 and 64 who use psychoactive substances – more than double the global average.
An earlier, 2018 report by UNODC noted that although men still outnumber women in overall drug use, women were accounting for nearly half of all amphetamine and prescription stimulant users in Nigeria, with one in every four drug users in the country being a female.
Other scholarly studies indicate that while Nigerian men are seven times more likely to use cannabis, the gender gap narrows sharply when it comes to opioids such as codeine, morphine, tramadol, and tranquilizers or cough syrups laced with codeine—substances increasingly found in the private drawers of the nation’s well-to-do homes.
According to Mr Daniel Onyishi who is Commander of the NDLEA in Anambra state:
“The major concern is that women, especially young girls, are embracing substance abuse. One out of every four drug abusers is a woman and one out of five will suffer substance abuse disorder.” A significant proportion of these are wives or daughters in affluent homes.
Another NDLEA officer in Abuja who promised to help arrange an elaborate interview with NDLEA spokesman, Mr. Femi Babafemi, acknowledged that drug use is no longer confined to the slums. “Drug abuse has moved from the ghettos to the sitting rooms of the elite. We are now arresting more people with manicured nails, designer clothes, and university degrees,” he said.
In response to the work of a committee, which submitted a report into the widespread abuse of cough syrup that contain codeine, especially by women and girls in some northern states, the Federal Ministry of Health began efforts to curb the importation and sale of such medication.
In several southern states, cocaine, methamphetamine, and ecstasy headline the illicit market, but psychologists warn that the real plague lies in everyday prescriptions – painkillers, antidepressants, sedatives, and sleeping pills.
Unlike the stereotypical street-corner transactions in the city’s underbelly, the trade in illicit substances among Abuja’s privileged class is cloaked in urban polish. Here, dispatch riders – those ubiquitous bikers weaving through traffic with insulated boxes – have become the new couriers of addiction.
In a recent statement, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi revealed that three such riders were arrested for distributing illegal substances across the capital. The suspects – Sabo Sule, 24; Samuel Nnamdi, 28; and Idris Jibrin, 28 – were intercepted during intelligence-led stop-and-search operations in Gwarimpa, Jahi, and Galadimawa.areas.
According to the agency, a total of 149.8 grams of Canadian Loud — a highly potent strain of cannabis — was recovered from the riders, who operated under the guise of regular commercial dispatch service providers.
Beyond the high walls of wealth, there is cause for increased concerns. For years, drug addiction wore a predictable face – the face of the street boy under the bridge, the commercial bus conductor, the forlorn youth of Ajegunle or Nyanya. But today, addiction speaks in polished English, drives a sleek SUV, and posts filtered photos of luxury vacations.
An addiction therapist in Abuja, who pleaded anonymity, shared this with The Nation:
“Every month, we receive at least four new clients from elite homes. Some are women of status – wives of politicians, CEOs, or even church leaders. They come in quietly, often at night. Their biggest fear is not death or withdrawal – it’s scandal.”
Their drugs of choice? “Painkillers like Tramadol, codeine cough syrups, Diazepam, sleeping pills – the so-called ‘respectable’ substances,” she explained. “And then there’s wine, always within arm’s reach. Many see it as harmless, until it becomes the only friend that listens.”
From the manicured courtyards of elite private schools to the dimly lit lounges and glitzy nightclubs of Abuja, a quiet epidemic wafts through the air – shisha smoke. What begins as harmless fun, a social ritual of scented clouds and laughter, often conceals a more sinister undercurrent.
Unbeknownst to many teenagers—and to the parents who trust they are simply “hanging out with friends”—these sessions can become the first step down a slippery slope. Increasingly, shisha is being laced with all manner of substances designed to heighten euphoria, turning a fashionable pastime into a potential gateway to addiction.
“Hadiza” (not her real name), 31, a fashion entrepreneur living in Abuja’s Garki area, sips herbal tea as she recounts her descent into dependency.
“It started after my second baby,” she says softly. “I couldn’t sleep. A friend gave me a pill — said it would help me relax. It did. But then I needed more. Soon, I couldn’t go a day without it. I would smile at clients in the day, and at night, I would crumble inside.”
She pauses, eyes misting:
“Pople think comfort protects you. But sometimes, comfort becomes the cage – the one you decorate beautifully before you realise you are trapped.”
The psychology of privilege
Psychologists argue that the trappings of wealth often conceal deep emotional voids. Dr. Bidemi Olayinka, a clinical psychologist in Abuja explains:
“Addiction in affluent homes is not about curiosity – it’s about coping. Many of these women are emotionally isolated. They cannot scream, cannot break down, cannot confide. Their lives are performances – and drugs become the backstage curtain where they can finally be human.”
Children, too, are not spared. Left to nannies and screens, they grow up amid abundance but starved of affection. When rebellion comes, it often arrives in coded form – vaping, codeine cocktails, or nights blurred by ecstasy.
“A child who cannot find warmth in the home,” Dr. Olayinka adds, “will find it in the haze of intoxication.”
From pharmacies to night parties: what they use and how they use it all yield some interesting insights. Across the glossy surfaces of Abuja’s lounges and other cities’ private clubs, substance abuse wears a new face. It is stylish, subtle, and often hidden in designer handbags.
Even in the outskirts of Abuja, in places like Lugbe where a strip club and other joints attract night crawlers who drive in from the city in sleek cars, drug abuse is part of the treacherous fun.
On Sunday nights in Abuja’s Central Area, where the city’s trendy youth gather to perform daredevil car stunts and flaunt sleek engines beneath the glare of headlights, a quieter spectacle unfolds in the shadows – the discreet indulgence in drugs.
Among many young people from affluent homes, substance use has taken on the appearance of sophistication. Codeine and Tramadol are stealthily stirred into fruit juice or tea; sleeping pills like Valium, Lexotan, and Rivotril are taken under the guise of “stress relief.” At private parties, cocaine and methamphetamine are used not for rebellion but for “energy.”
Even cannabis has found new disguises – baked into brownies, infused into chocolates, served up as part of an initiation into a habit-forming culture. And beneath it all lies alcohol – the socially accepted companion that often conceals more dangerous dependencies simmering beneath the surface.
The glittering influence of social media appears to be part of the problem.
In today’s digital world, social validation fuels consumption. Scrolling through Instagram, one encounters the curated illusion of the “soft life” — champagne breakfasts, smoke-filled selfies, cool clubbing and parties that stretch into dawn. Media analyst Adele hukwuma observes: “Addiction today is aesthetic. It’s packaged as fun, freedom, sophistication. Young people don’t see substance abuse; they see lifestyle branding. And when influencers sip or puff, millions watch and learn.”
The UNODC’s 2023 survey found that peer pressure and online influence were among the top five reasons for substance initiation among Nigerian youths.
Inside many elegant homes, addiction is an unspoken war. Some of the women who once hosted parties now hide in their bedrooms, clutching a bottle of red wine like a lifeline. Some husbands who once prided themselves on family values now whisper to private doctors, desperate to reverse a saddening situation and also, avoid scandal.
A nurse at a private Abuja wellness centre revealed: “We have wives of very powerful men checking in for what they call ‘stress treatment’. That’s just detoxification by another name. They prefer to come in at night and leave before dawn.”
But silence has its costs. Many suffer panic attacks, breakdowns, and marital collapse. Some young men, girls and women overdose quietly, their deaths explained away as “cardiac arrest.”
For the entire society, the cost of denial is huge. Addiction erodes not only individuals but the moral fibre of society’s upper crust. As Dr. Tunji Yusuf, a governance scholar, warns:
“When those in leadership – political, economic, or moral – are secretly battling addiction, society pays the hidden price. It weakens judgment, integrity, and compassion.”
The tragedy is not merely the fall of individuals, but the slow corrosion of collective values — the normalization of emotional emptiness behind designer smiles.
Through it all, healing and hope remain great possibilities. There are flickers of hope amid the gloom. The NDLEA’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative continues to push boundaries, taking anti-drug messages to schools, religious institutions, and workplaces. But experts insist that rehabilitation models must adapt to the reality of elite addiction – confidential, discreet, and emotionally grounded.
In both formal discussions and informal circles, psychologists and medical experts continue to advocate a multi-pronged approach to addressing the growing wave of substance abuse among Nigeria’s elite. They emphasize the need for the establishment of more high-security, private recovery centres where clients’ identities are protected; emotional literacy programmes tailored for women within affluent social networks; and the promotion of faith-based and peer support groups that encourage empathy and openness rather than stigma. Equally vital, they insist, is the integration of mental health education into private schools and universities, where prevention must begin long before crisis sets in.
Churches and mosques also have pragmatic roles to play towards facilitating greeater empathy, encouraging openness and supporting rehabilitation while playing down the stigma that makes a recovering addict’s journey difficult.
As night descends on the city, the mansions of Abuja glow softly under the lamplight — serene, composed, and deceivingly perfect. Yet behind some of those ornate walls, tears mingle with perfume, and despair hides beneath silk sheets.
Drug abuse in affluent homes is not about moral failure. It is about human frailty wrapped in luxury. It is the cry for help of those who have everything, yet feel nothing.
Perhaps, in the end, the lesson is that comfort does not cure loneliness, and money cannot muffle the ache of the heart. Beneath the shimmer of wealth, the soul still hungers — for connection, for peace, for meaning.
Until we learn to treat addiction as a symptom of this deeper hunger rather than a scandal to suppress, Nigeria’s gilded cages will continue to echo with the same silent cries — muffled by privilege, sustained by shame.
Addiction, experts often say, wears many masks, and understanding its truths is the first step toward healing. For one, alcohol remains the most abused substance—its social acceptance masking the quiet devastation it leaves in its wake. Addiction itself alters the brain’s architecture, reshaping neural pathways and turning occasional indulgence into a compulsive need.
Psychologists stress that early intervention is far more effective than waiting for that fabled “rock-bottom” moment. The longer dependence lingers, the harder recovery becomes. In managing addiction, empathy and communication often achieve what punishment and moral outrage cannot. A calm conversation, a listening ear, and the patient work of therapy reach far deeper than judgment ever could.
Yet, recovery is rarely swift. Many people require long-term or repeated treatment, cycling through hope, relapse, and restoration before finding balance again. Treatment works best when paired with counselling, addressing not just the body’s craving but the mind’s unhealed wounds. And when relapse happens—as it often does—it should not be seen as failure but as feedback, a signpost pointing toward what still needs mending.
Addiction, after all, is less a moral flaw than a human struggle; one that calls for compassion, understanding, and the courage to begin again.
Her comments sparked widespread speculation about the state of the union, which has been the subject of online discussion since their traditional wedding in 2019.
Senator Nwoko, who represents the Delta North Senatorial District, issued a statement denying wrongdoing and alleging that the actress was struggling with personal challenges.
“Regina was not always like this. Her current battle with drugs and alcohol abuse is the root of our problem.
“She must continue her rehabilitation programme, or I fear for her life and safety.
“Now she has moved to a place where she will have unrestricted access to drugs.
“I have other wives, and none will ever accuse me of violence.
“Regina is the violent one here, slapping and hitting three staff in the past 48 hours and destroying property, including cars and windows, for no just cause.
“The truth is, I have set a clear condition for her to accept rehab in Asokoro or outside Nigeria, especially Jordan, where she will not have access to drugs.
“A clear-headed regina would have taken Moon to the hospital, but instead she even threatened to kill our resident nurse (for exposing her drug abuse).
“While I took Moon to the hospital, a scene of chaos unfolded at home, orchestrated by Regina’s main drug supplier.
“Another known supplier of drugs to Regina is the tiny evil devil called Ann,” he wrote in a statement posted on his verified social media page.
The development has drawn significant attention on social media, with family members and associates of the couple making conflicting claims about the dispute.
The couple, who have two children together, have often been in the public eye due to the age difference in their marriage.
Regina was 20 when they tied the knot, while Nwoko was 59.
As of the time of filing this report, neither party has provided additional details about the ongoing disagreement.
Daniels’ mother could not be reached for comment as of press time.
When our reporter called her, she hung up and refused to pick up further calls.
She also did not call back as of press time.
Senator Nwoko came under intense criticism for exposing his wife’s personal challenges on social media.
He spoke during the Football Anti-Drug Abuse Programme tagged, “Kick Out Drug Abuse” (KODA) organised by RichyGold International Limited, a pharmaceutical manufacturing company based in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos, in partnership with the NDLEA. The tournament, which featured female and male teams from select public secondary schools and amateur teams in Abuja, was held at the Old Parade Ground, Area 10, Abuja.
The NDLEA chairman praised RichyGold International for the initiative of “creatively using the power of football, the world’s most loved sport” for moral re-orientation and life transformation. He noted that substances such as tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, tramadol, codeine mixtures, cocaine, methamphetamine, etc., rob young people of their health, potential and future. Gen. Marwa reiterated that NDLEA has, over the years, witnessed how drug abuse brought about broken homes, wasteful life and time, increased crime rate, orchestrated violence and shattered communities, and urged the youths to replicate the discipline and determination in the pitch in their everyday lives by helping to build a drug-free society where youths rise to their full potential.
Earlier, the Managing Director, RichyGold International and convener of KODA, Mr. Jude Ejike Onwusonye, said his company decided to complement the efforts of NDLEA by sponsoring the football fiesta to dissuade the youth from indulging in drug abuse. Noting that abuse of drugs is an ill wind that blows any one no good, expressed the grave concern that beyond the boy-child, drug abuse has spread to the girl-child who are the future mothers. He, therefore, urged the youth to shun such risky behaviours that could destroy their dreams, ruin the future, and break trust and relationships.
Side attractions were pep talks, drama presentation, football competition and presentation of trophy, medals, and cash awards to the participating teams and schools by the NDLEA boss.
At the event were former Chairman of Umunneochi Local Government Area, Abia State, Dr. Jasper Uche; former Director-General. Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, Clement Nze; representative of FCT Mandate Secretary for Education; Hon. Chief Uche Ogbuagu, former Member of Imo State House of Assembly; CEO of Kingswatt Nig. Limited, Ogbuehi Kingsley Nwankwo; Martin Ifesi of Ima world and Managing Director, MUJID Healthcare; youth Corps members; and President/executive members of National Association Northern Nigeria Students.
Drug abuse among youths is worsening, with one in seven Nigerians, from 15 to 64, profiled as drug user, three times the global average, experts have said.
A 2018 National Drug Use Survey by UN Office on Drugs and Crime in partnership with Federal Government reached this conclusion, and was part of discussions at a health talk, by RCCG, Zion Chapel, Lagos Province 57, at Ikeja.
The programme: “Drugs and Substance Abuse: Any Hope for the Youth?”, brought together doctors, narcotics officers, and academics.
Medical Director of Brafus Specialist Hospital, Lagos, Dr. Charles Davies, who moderated the panel, said cannabis, tramadol, codeine-based cough syrups, rohypnol, cocaine, and methamphetamine are the most abused substances among young people.
“These drugs are cheap, easily accessible, and unfortunately glamourised by peers, entertainers, and social media. The consequence is that many, some barely teenagers, are deep in addiction,” he said.
Head of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology at College of Medicine, UNILAG, Dr. Henrietta Igbokwe, attributed the trend to peer pressure, lack of jobs, and untreated mental health challenges. “Young people experiment to belong. Others use drugs to escape depression, anxiety, or hopelessness, etc,” she said.
Retired Assistant Commander of Narcotics at NDLEA, Dr. Wale Ige, said poor regulation and porous borders worsened the problem. “Despite government bans, codeine and tramadol are everywhere. Until enforcement is tightened, supply will overwhelm control.”
He said drug abuse drives crimes. “Cultism, robbery, kidnapping, domestic violence have strong ties to drug use” .
Experts at the forum painted a bleak picture of the impact of drug abuse. Prolonged misuse, they said, leads to brain damage, organ failure, mental illness, and even death
An anaesthetist at General Hospital, Gbagada, Yinka Anifowoshe, said: “Drug abuse is a silent destroyer. . If nothing is done, we can lose a generation.”
The panelists agreed that tackling drug abuse requires joint effort from families, schools, government, and communities.
They urged parents to monitor their children closely, while schools should integrate drug education into their curricula. They also stressed that government must create jobs, expand vocational training, and invest more in mental health and counselling services to reduce the hopelessness that drives many youths into drugs.
They further called for tighter border controls, stronger NDLEA operations, and sanctions against complicit officials, while emphasising that rehabilitation and reintegration should take precedence over punishment.
Religious and community leaders, they added, must intensify awareness campaigns, even as young people themselves use music, art, and social media to spread anti-drug messages.
Convener of the programme and pastor of RCCG Zion Chapel, Pastor Godfrey Iluobe, said the annual health talk, now in its ninth year, was designed to promote total human welfare.
“As Christians, we often emphasise spirituality while neglecting the body. This programme enlightens people on how to care for their health so they can fulfil God’s purpose,” he said.
He disclosed that the church has also been reaching out to vulnerable youths in Oregun, some of whom were prayed for during the event.
“These boys had their destinies nearly destroyed by drugs. But we have been engaging them weekly with food, prayers, and fellowship. Some are now on the path of recovery,” he said.
The experts concluded that drug abuse is not merely a youth problem but a national emergency requiring collective action.
“Saving the youths means saving the future of Nigeria,” Dr. Igbokwe said.
Drug abuse among Nigerian youths has reached epidemic levels, with one in every seven Nigerians between ages 15 and 64 identified as a drug user, nearly three times the global average.
Experts say the situation, if unchecked, could cripple the nation’s future workforce, security, and productivity.
The revelation, drawn from the 2018 National Drug Use Survey conducted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in partnership with the Federal Government, formed the crux of discussions at a health symposium organised by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Zion Chapel, Lagos Province 57, Oregun, Ikeja.
The programme, themed “Drugs and Substance Abuse: Any Hope for the Youth?”, brought together medical professionals, narcotics officers, and academics who unanimously agreed that Nigeria is facing a dangerous crisis.
Medical Director of Brafus Specialist Hospital, Lagos, Dr. Charles Davies, who moderated the panel, said cannabis, tramadol, codeine-based cough syrups, rohypnol, cocaine, and methamphetamine have become the most abused substances among young people.
“These drugs are cheap, easily accessible, and unfortunately glamorised by peers, entertainers, and social media. The consequence is that many young people, some barely teenagers, are now deep in addiction,” he said.
Head of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology at the College of Medicine, UNILAG, Dr. Henrietta Igbokwe, attributed the trend to peer pressure, unemployment, and untreated mental health challenges. “Young people experiment to belong. Others use drugs to escape depression, anxiety, or hopelessness caused by lack of opportunities,” she explained.
Retired Assistant Commander of Narcotics at the NDLEA, Dr. Wale Ige, said poor regulation and porous borders have worsened the problem. “Despite government bans, codeine and tramadol remain easily available on the streets. Until enforcement is tightened, supply will always overwhelm control,” he warned.
According to him, drug abuse is also a major driver of violent crimes. “Cultism, armed robbery, kidnapping, domestic violence, all have strong ties to drug use,” he said.
Experts at the forum painted a bleak picture of the impact of drug abuse. Prolonged misuse, they said, leads to brain damage, organ failure, mental illness, and even death.
An anaesthetist at the General Hospital, Gbagada, Dr. Yinka Anifowoshe said: “Drug abuse is a silent destroyer of lives. It forces many students out of school, destroys families emotionally and financially, and erodes national productivity. If nothing is done, we risk losing a generation.”
The panelists agreed that tackling drug abuse requires joint effort from families, schools, government, and communities.
They urged parents to monitor their children closely, while schools should integrate drug education into their curricula. They also stressed that government must create jobs, expand vocational training, and invest more in mental health and counselling services to reduce the hopelessness that drives many youths into drugs.
They further called for tighter border controls, stronger NDLEA operations, and sanctions against complicit officials, while emphasising that rehabilitation and reintegration should take precedence over punishment.
Religious and community leaders, they added, must intensify awareness campaigns, even as young people themselves use music, art, and social media to spread anti-drug messages.
Convener of the programme and pastor of RCCG Zion Chapel, Pastor Godfrey Iluobe, said the annual health talk, now in its ninth year, was designed to promote total human welfare.
“As Christians, we often emphasise spirituality while neglecting the body. This programme enlightens people on how to care for their health so they can fulfil God’s purpose,” he said.
He disclosed that the church has also been reaching out to vulnerable youths in Oregun, some of whom were prayed for during the event.
“These boys had their destinies nearly destroyed by drugs. But we have been engaging them weekly with food, prayers, and fellowship. Some are now on the path of recovery,” he said.
The experts concluded that drug abuse is not merely a youth problem but a national emergency requiring collective action.
“Saving the youths means saving the future of Nigeria,” Dr. Igbokwe said.
Key stakeholders have raised concerns over how widespread drug abuse by youths in Plateau state is endangering lives of present and next generation of youths.
A group known as Sound Minds Medical and Rehabilitation Initiative (SOMMRI) in partnership with the Plateau State Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs has warned that if the trend remained unchecked, the majority of youths in the state will be incapacitated by hard drugs.
The warning came during a workshop titled “Impact of Drug Abuse on Local Governance.” It was held on Tuesday, September 2nd, 2025, at Crispan Event and Suites, Jos.
The programme was organised by the Sound Minds Medical and Rehabilitation Initiative (SOMMRI) in partnership with the Plateau State Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
Nurse Ndak Zuhumnan Andarawus, also called Nurse Kizito, gave a presentation on drug use in Nigeria and Plateau. He listed substances like cocaine, tramadol, cannabis, and others that damage the brain and change behaviour.
“The link between drug abuse and crime cannot be overemphasised. Many perpetrators of violent crimes confess they could not have carried out such acts without drugs,” he said.
He added that in Jos, “jungles” where drugs are freely used now exist in almost every community. “Hard drugs embolden criminals and armed groups, wiping away their inhibitions and conscience,” he warned.
Clinical Psychologist Mafai Dauboyi spoke on family factors. He said poor parenting, early alcohol use, and lack of supervision increase the risk. Positive role models and strong community values, he explained, help protect young people.
Prof. Nwoga Charles, a consultant psychiatrist at the University of Jos, said addiction is more than a health issue. “Companies profit while communities pay the price in productivity, health, and lives lost. We need treatment centers across Plateau State, not just conversations,” he said.
Pharmacist Gyang Samuel Ishaya, Executive Secretary of Jos North LGA, said the main problem facing youths is drugs. “Our problem in Jos North is not about ethnicity or religion—it is drugs. This programme helps us build synergy with traditional rulers, NDLEA, and communities to confront the menace,” he explained.
The Speaker of the Plateau Youth Council, Rt. Hon. Aseno Amos, added his voice. “Most of those in rehabilitation centers are youths who should be in schools or at work. Drug abuse is crippling our manpower and fueling crime,” he said.
Religious and traditional leaders also spoke. They called for unity among councils, security agencies, and faith groups to fight the spread of drug abuse. They urged a revival of youth activities like debates, sports, and cultural events.
At the end, participants agreed on stronger local by-laws, more support for NDLEA, and the creation of rehabilitation centers. Organisers promised that all feedback would guide new policies and government plans.
traders, youths, and officials have pledged to battle drug abuse in markets and communities. This is as the Community Development and Public Enlightenment Department of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission took its anti-drug abuse sensitisation to Effurun Market in Uvwie Local Government.
The campaign was to raise awareness about dangers of drug abuse and foster collective responsibility in addressing the menace.
Department Head, Chinenye Ezonfade, noted the devastating consequences of drug abuse on individuals, families, and the broader society.
“Drug abuse not only destroys lives of those who partake in it, but also affects families, communities, and the state. We are here to share vital information and resources to help prevent spread of this menace,” she said.
Ezonfade called on parents and guardians to be more active in the lives of their children.
“Our children are our pride and leaders of tomorrow. If they are destroyed by drugs, who will take over from today’s leaders?” she asked.
Bobby Akuirema, principal official of the department, mentioned the impact of drug misuse on youth and society.
“The misuse of drugs has created problems in our society, endangering young lives. We have launched this campaign to rescue our children and educate parents who are often too occupied to notice early signs,” he said.
Another speaker, Mr. James Adjevabor, spoke about the psychological and social factors behind youth involvement in drugs, including peer pressure, bullying, and a lack of parental presence.
“Parents must create a loving and trusting environment at home. Open communication is key,” he advised.
The event also featured a question-and-answer session where attendees voiced their concerns and suggestions.
Some traders, Madam Antonia Oghoro, Faustina Ndidi, and Isiwa Nyama shared observations of youth vulnerability in the market and thanked the commission for the event.
“We need more of this. We see some of the young boys going astray. It’s good to see a government body come to the grassroots,” Oghoro said.
The commission said the outreach is part of a broader campaign that will span other markets and communities in Delta State.
