President Bola Tinubu has called for the fight against drug abuse and illicit trafficking to evolve into a national movement, stressing that only a holistic, inclusive approach can successfully tackle the scourge.
“To effectively tackle this problem, our approach must be comprehensive,” President Tinubu declared in a keynote address delivered on his behalf by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, at the grand finale of the 2025 World Drug Day commemoration held at the Presidential Villa Conference Centre, Abuja.
“We must foster peace. We must promote inclusive development. And we must uphold human rights every step of the way,” he said, emphasising the need to address the root causes of drug abuse, including poverty, inequality, and conflict.
He underscored that combating substance abuse and trafficking is not a task for the government alone but must be championed by families, civil society, youth groups, faith leaders, community organisations, businesses, and individuals with lived experience.
“Their voices matter. Their stories inspire. Their leadership is essential,” the President said.
Reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to global efforts to end drug abuse, Tinubu noted, “Together, we can dismantle the systems that sustain this crisis. Together, we can build a future where prevention is strong, treatment is accessible, and recovery is not just possible—but celebrated.”
He linked this commitment to his administration’s broader “Renewed Hope Agenda”, which aims to address socio-economic vulnerabilities.
“This has been the focus of our administration—breaking the burden of poverty, uplifting millions out of squalor, and caring for the youth through the student loan scheme and other empowerment initiatives,” he said.
President Tinubu also commended the leadership of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and its chairman, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), for the agency’s globally recognised achievements in both drug supply and demand reduction.
“The NDLEA’s work has not only earned praise from international partners but has also drawn further support and collaboration in the global fight against substance abuse,” the President noted.
In his welcome address, Gen. Marwa painted a stark picture of the country’s drug challenge, stressing that prevention must now be treated as a national emergency.
“With a population exceeding 230 million, it is both urgent and pragmatic to prevent new individuals from being drawn into the population of drug users,” he said.
According to Marwa, the NDLEA has adopted a two-pronged strategy: an aggressive crackdown on drug supply networks and a robust push for drug use prevention and rehabilitation.
“Over the past 53 months, we have arrested 66,085 drug offenders, including 94 identified drug barons. “We’ve seized over 11.1 million kilograms of assorted drugs and secured the conviction of 12,201 individuals”, he announced.
He further revealed that 26,393 persons had undergone counselling and rehabilitation during the period, with 30 treatment centres currently in operation and seven more approved for development in the current fiscal year.
Marwa praised the support of the Tinubu administration, the National Assembly, and international partners, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), UK Border Force, and others.
Beyond enforcement, Marwa said, the agency has made significant strides in community-based advocacy and prevention through its flagship War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign.
“Every week, in all 36 states, the FCT and 14 zonal commands, WADA teams raise awareness in schools, markets, offices, places of worship and transport hubs. Through over 11,000 sensitisation programmes and weekly media campaigns, we have reached millions”, he said.
Marwa emphasised that effective parenting and responsible teaching are frontline defences in the fight against drug abuse.
“Children don’t just need money—they need the presence and guidance of their parents,” he said, calling on parents and teachers to instill values and stay engaged in their wards’ lives.
He also spotlighted the NDLEA’s 24/7 toll-free helpline and psychological support services as essential resources for those battling addiction.
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, in his remarks, described drug abuse as a multidimensional threat—undermining national security, public health, and economic development.
“It forces organized crime, destroys the rule of law, and erodes the future of our young people—our most precious national assets,” Fagbemi stated.
He emphasized the need to embed drug prevention within the educational system, healthcare services, and criminal justice structures.
The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, represented by Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics, described the fight against drugs as “a war of necessity.”
“Every life lost to addiction is not just a tragedy, it is a failure of our collective will. Every young Nigerian drawn into this abyss is a call to arms,” Dankwambo said.
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Country Representative, Cheikh Ousmane Toure, said prevention, treatment and recovery must not be seen as luxuries.
“They are life-saving investments. Together, we can break the vicious cycle of drug abuse, organised crime and marginalisation, and build a safer, healthier and more hopeful Nigeria”, he stressed.
The Nigeria Governors’ Spouses’ Forum (NGSF) has urged the Federal Government and their husbands to declare a state of emergency on drug abuse and illicit trafficking.
The forum said this would engender national ownership of the drug problem for the mobilization of resources to dismantle the menace.
The governors’ spouses declared their support for the war against drugs at the state level and promised to ensure the initiative gets down to communities in their domains.
The declaration was part of their resolutions in a communiqué read by the wife of Ogun state, Mrs. Bamidele Dapo Abiodun, on behalf of the Chairperson of the forum and wife of Kwara State governor, Prof. Olufolake AbdulRazaq.
The communiqué was issued at the end of a training workshop organised by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in collaboration with the NGSF in Abuja.
The NGSF noted that states play critical roles as stakeholders in addressing national drug challenges.
The forum said the states achieve this by implementing localised strategies, fostering cross-sector collaboration and aligning with internal frameworks towards responding to community needs and contributing to coordinated national responses.
It said the success of the ongoing efforts by the NDLEA against the menace of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking would lead to the actualisation of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
“Recalling the importance that successfully tackling the drug scourge will remarkably ensure that the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President is achievable for holistic national development required to birth a Nigeria of our collective dreams,” the governors’ wives said.
They expressed concern “that Nigeria presently faces an alarming drug use situation, which has heavily pervaded every sphere and strata of communities and consequently endangering the wellbeing and security of individuals, families and communities within the country”.
The forum endorsed the “outstanding efforts of NDLEA under the leadership of Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa against drug use and trafficking with phenomenal national and global success records in the areas of arrests and seizures, prosecutions and convictions, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation among others”.
In its resolutions, the NGSF acknowledged “with urgency the need for the First Ladies to use their good offices to liaise with the state governors in facilitating the establishment, of State Drug Control Committees (SDCCs) in the 36 states of the country, beyond the nine functional committees currently in existence”.
It said the laudable partnership between NDLEA and the NGSF has yielded significant dividends and achieved notable milestones over time.
The forum added that “urgent concerted and pragmatic efforts are required considering the complex public health issues and security challenges, the country is witnessing, which is fuelled largely by the use of drugs”.
Renowned Guidance and Counselling expert, Mrs. Maria Ilugbuhi, has cautioned that Nigeria can no longer afford to treat the issue of drug abuse and treatment as a mere formality.
Ilugbuhi stressed the urgent need for stakeholders to take proactive steps in addressing the growing drug abuse problem, highlighting the necessity for effective treatment options for victims.
She made these remarks during a lecture titled “Challenges of Drug Abuse in Society and Treatment Options,” held to mark the 70th birthday of renowned cleric Pastor Debo Daniel.
The event, which took place at the Ibadan Civic Centre, Idi-Ape, also included the public presentation of “In the King’s Service,” a biography of Pastor Debo Daniel.
During her lecture, Ilugbuhi presented alarming statistics on the prevalence of drug abuse across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones: North West (12.0%), North Central (10.0%), Southwest (22.4%), South South (16.6%), South East (13.8%), and North East (13.6%). She emphasized that these figures are concerning and called for immediate intervention from all relevant stakeholders.
She identified the the major barriers to drug treatment in Nigeria to include: prohibitive cost, fear and social stigma, inavailability of treatment, lack of information on where to find local treatment among others.
Particularly, she said Yobe, Imo, Bayelsa, Rivers and Lagos states ranked as “the states where it was more difficult to access treatment for drug use disorders”.
Speaking on the challenges of drug abuse, the expert who is renowned for her specialization in substance use prevention and treatment said the challenges of drug abuse could be individuals, social, economic, environmental and or global.
According to her, drugs is abused when people use illegal drugs or legal drugs inappropriately, adding that it can also include use of prescription drugs in ways other than prescribed or using someone else’s prescription.
She explained that people are also into drug abuse when there is repeated use of drugs to produce pleasure, alleviate stress, and/or alter or avoid reality, warning that misuse can cause or lead to physical, social, economic or legal harms.
She urged the stakeholders, particularly government to improve access to treatment by increasing funding for evidence-based treatment programs, expand medicaid and other health insurance coverage for substance abuse treatment, reduce waitlists and improve treatment capacity as well as provide transportation and childcare support to facilitate treatment access.
The second guest lecturer, Apostle I. D Lawon who spoke on Inner-City Missions explained that inner-city missions play a crucial role in addressing the multifaceted challenged faced by urban communities which includes: poverty, homelessness and social marginalization.
He noted that effective engagement in these missions requires a combination of strategic planning, cultural sensitivity and practical action, lamenting that the rural urban migration is having vast negative effect on many people in the rural communities, hence the need for outreach to minister to people in such communities.
He called for support for ministries that are engaged in touching and impacting lives in the inner city, adding that by adopting holistic ministry practices, fostering community engagement, collaborating with local entities, equipping volunteers and promoting sustainable development, missions can effect a meaningful and lasting change in urban communities.
The book reviewer, Professor Marcus Ayoola said the book is more than a book, describing it as the extension of the acts of Apostles.
He said the book is a practical manual for all believes who want to live a genuine Christian life.
In his appreciation, the celebrant, Pastor Daniel said the celebration is a opportunity for him to rededicate his life to the service of God by impacting more on people in the inner-city.
He expressed appreciation to God for the gift of life and assures that he is looking forward to doing more for people in the areas of impacting life and living his life for others.
The Osun State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Umar Abba, has revealed that most crimes committed in the state are carried out under the influence of drugs.
In response to this growing concern, the police command has pledged to collaborate with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to combat drug-related crimes.
According to a statement by the command’s spokesperson, CSP Yemisi Opalola, on Thursday, the Commissioner made this commitment while receiving the Osun State Commander of the NDLEA, Adetula Lawal, during a courtesy visit to the command headquarters.
She stated: “The NDLEA Commander commended the Osun Police Command for its efforts in combating crime and criminality in the state.
“He also reiterated the NDLEA’s commitment to collaborating with the police, as a leading security agency, to tackle the menace of drug abuse and trafficking in Osun.
“The Osun CP, in his response, appreciated the NDLEA Commander for the visit and expressed his readiness to further strengthen the healthy partnership between the two agencies.
“The fight against drug abuse requires collective efforts, as many people committing crimes are doing so under the influence of dangerous drugs.”
In a spirited effort to combat the growing menace of drug abuse in Nigeria, a groundbreaking event tagged “Kick Out Drug Abuse (KODA)” took place on Friday, December 6, 2024, at the Anthony Village Football Field in Lagos. The initiative, spearheaded by Richy Gold International Ltd, a leading pharmaceutical company, in collaboration with the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), aimed to raise awareness about the devastating impact of drug abuse on individuals and society at large.
The event, supported by Goldmoore International Ltd and Print factory, was a testament to the shared commitment of stakeholders in addressing the scourge of drug addiction through impactful grassroots initiatives. Dignitaries and top officials from Richy Gold International Ltd, NDLEA, and other prominent organizations graced the occasion. The highlight of the day was a thrilling football match between Anthony All Stars and Anthony City Football Academy.
The game, intended to promote community engagement and foster unity in the fight against drug abuse, drew a large and enthusiastic crowd. The symbolic kick-off of the match was performed by the Chief Executives of NDLEA and Richy Gold International Ltd, emphasizing the collaborative effort between the public and private sectors in this noble cause.
The football match, characterized by skillful plays and intense competition, ended with Anthony All Stars emerging victorious. The winning team was awarded a beautifully crafted trophy plus cash prize and the loser compensated with cash prize also, underscoring, the event’s commitment to recognizing talent and promoting positive community engagement. Speaking at the event, the MD of Richy Gold; Mr. Jude Ejike Onwusonye highlighted the importance of such initiatives in creating awareness and fostering a drug-free society. “Drug abuse not only destroys lives but also undermines the foundation of our communities, Nigeria and the World at large”.
Through events like KODA, we aim to inspire collective action and offer hope to those battling with drug addiction”, he said.The Director, Seaport Operations of NDLEA; DCGN Omolade Eniola Fsi, ably represented by Commander Jude Amaefule commended Richy Gold International Ltd for their unwavering dedication to the cause, stating “This partnership exemplifies what can be achieved when we come together with a shared purpose. Sports are a powerful tool for engaging young people, and today’s event is a step forward in our mission to eradicate drug abuse”.
The success of the KODA event at Anthony Village stands as a shining example of how partnerships and community-driven efforts. can make a tangible difference in addressing societal challenges; he concluded. As the curtain fell on the memorable day, attendees were left with the renewed sense of purpose to fight drug abuse and build a healthier, more resilient society.
A robustly intelligence-driven approach to the fight against drug abuse has led to a 90 percent conviction rate for drug offenders, the highest in the world, NICHOLAS KALU reports:
According to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), it has recorded over 90 percent success in conviction rate of drug offenders it has charged to court since the present administration of the present chairman, Buba Marwa took over in January 2021.
Backing this audacious claim, the Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, provided data that indicated that over 9, 000 convictions have been recorded since Marwa took over. According to the Agency’s Spokesman, this was the highest conviction rate anywhere in the world. He disclosed that at the moment, they have more than 12,000 offenders being prosecuted.
“The cases are going on in the courts, more than 12,000. They are at various levels of litigation with most of them reaching an advanced stage. In the last three years, we’ve had 52, 901 arrests, including 51 drug barons within the period. Within the same period, we had 9,034 convictions. And from these cases, we’ve recovered over 8,608,516.305 kilograms of asserted illicit drugs. That’s 8,608 tons of illicit drugs. We have destroyed cannabis farms well over 1, 100 hectares within the same time frame.
“Again within the same period, we had 33,453 drug users counseled and rehabilitated. Again don’t forget that there’s this War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, social advocacy initiative to mobilise citizens to create awareness and enlighten people in schools, workplaces, communities, out of school children and all of them on the dangers of abusing illicit substances.
“And within the same three years, we’ve had 6, 423 of those awareness lectures, sensitisation programmes in schools, workplaces, churches, mosques, markets, motor parks, and communities,” he said.
Further data obtained from the Agency indicated that from January to July 2024, the Agency has arrested 10, 049 offenders. Out of this number, 2, 969 are being charged to court and 2, 237 have been convicted.
Also under the period, 881, 311 kg of various illicit drugs were seized, while the Agency counselled 4, 191 persons and rehabilitated 701.
A robust intelligence-driven approach
What is responsible for this high rate of success, especially in terms of convictions, Babafemi says, is a robust intelligence driven approach that ensures all the work is done, such that culprits are always caught red-handed.
“Yes, in our cases, they are usually watertight because the suspects are usually arrested with the exhibits. So it’s not a matter of you arresting somebody and he’s able to deny anything. So more often than not, you see these people when they are faced with the law, they have no option but to admit guilt. And that’s why you hardly find our cases being taken to appeal. Most of our cases usually end at a trial court because it’s not what they can deny. They were arrested red-handed with the exhibit. So that’s responsible and what it means is that quite a lot of effort has been put into the process leading to the arrests and seizures. So the arrest and seizures are towards the end of the chain.
“That’s why the chairman and chief executive of the agency often says that our operations are 100% intelligence-led. It means we would have done quite a lot of work in the background leading to the arrest and seizure, which is just the end of it. So that’s why it’s pretty difficult.
“Even the big shots, the drug barons that have been on the run for years, we are now arresting them because of the intelligence capability and capacity of the agency at the moment. So we are able to combine a lot of intelligence and financial investigation mechanisms to be able to track and pin these people down.
“Just last week or two weeks ago, (we nabbed) a man that was one of the drug kingpins in Lagos called Na God. He had been wanted for a while, and for him to conduct a financial transaction, he had to leave his domain in Lagos to go Ogun State to go and do it. Unknown to him however, we’re tracking him. And so that was how we were able to pick him in the banking hall. That shows you quite a lot of what we are doing. I’m sure you’ll be surprised by it. He must have wondered how we got him in Ogun.
“So that’s how the agency has been able to combine both intelligence and financial investigation capability to be able to pin down some of these, especially the drug barons who have built a lot of shields around themselves over the years. All of those shields are now being cracked and falling apart because of the agency’s capability and the capacity to unravel them.
‘Agency leadership key in new drive to tackle drug abuse’
So what is the main difference between now and before when the Agency was characterised by lethargy, where hardly any positive results were recorded in the fight against drug abuse?
Babafemi said the leadership of the Agency today has been the key instrument in the successes recorded so far in galvanising human and material resources, as well as building networks within and outside of the country.
“All of these have worked to really help the agency in revitalising its operations and work ethics. I can tell you that the leadership has been of a significant impact on the work culture of the agency.
“Again the agency, through the capacity of his leadership, has been able to largely build a lot of partnership and relationships with international organisations, like the US Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs in the US State Department, the National Crime Agency in the UK, the Border Force in the UK, as well as the French police, the German police and our counterparts in India, Saudi, the UAE and across the world.
“So all of these partnerships have been built and strengthened to the point that there is that confidence, there is that mutual respect for us to share intelligence and for them to share with us as well.
“Also, there has been quite a lot of support from these organisations in terms of training, in terms of some logistics. All of these have impacted and we must also not lose, we cannot lose sight of the support the agency has received from the home front, talking of the government of Nigeria. I’ll tell you that more than ever before the government of Nigeria has supported the agency, especially at the highest level. Right from the presidency; the president himself is in support of this fight against the drug scourge and so has thrown his weight to support the agency.
“Even at the level of legislation; recently we had the National Assembly proposing a state of emergency and even proposing a death penalty for drug traffickers. All of these are actions that show that indeed they are aware of the problem and they are supporting the agency. Talking of the judiciary, I mean, those number of convictions couldn’t have been possible if not for their collaboration and understanding of the issue.
“Beyond that, the civil society, the non-governmental organisations, the faith-based organisations, the community-based organisations, have all coalesced into a strong partnership that has enabled the agency to be able to confront the drug scourge.
“We’re not yet there but then the process is moving so fast and we’re getting results and they’re making a lot of gains.
How relationship with sister security agencies have fared
Babafemi also stated that the Agency has enjoyed a robust relationship with sister security agencies, which has also accounted for the results it has been getting.
“The same way we have built and strengthened our partnership with our international partners; more than that, we have also done excellently well in that regard with our local stakeholders, talking of the military, talking of the Nigerian Customs, the Nigerian Police, the Civil Defense, the NFIU, the Road Safety, NAFDAC and everybody.
“This is a collective thing. The agency has deployed what is called a whole of government and a whole of society approach. That’s to carry everybody within the government structure along, get them involved. And that’s why we have a body called the Inter Ministerial Committee, IMC, which is the coordinating body of all the stakeholders; that is government stakeholders and the civil society involved.
“That’s why you would have seen again a partnership with the state governments to get state drug control committees, even with the first ladies in those states. We’ve trained them, sensitised them to know about and get their buy-in to support all of these.
“For instance, because of our partnership with local stakeholders, let me start with the case of Customs where we have a good working relationship at the ports where some huge consignments come in. If we don’t have that working relationship, more often than not, a lot of imported containers which are processed by the Customs for clearing, would have been smuggled in by the drug cartels.
Over N50b worth of seizures in one month
Babafemi said with the last one month the agency had intercepted 68 million pills of opiates a d over a million bottles of codeine with over N50 billion at the Tincan and Port Harcourt Ports in Lagos and Rivers State respectively.
Just imagine the last one month alone we had more than 68 million pills of opiates brought into the country.
“Let me state specifically, in the last one month we had a total of 68,138,000 pills of Tramadol brought in, imported into the country. And in addition to that, 1,068,253 bottles of codeine syrup.
“All of those were seized within the space of the last 30 days at Tincan in Lagos and Port Harcourt Port Complex, Onne. Just imagine, those are items, substances worth well over 50 billion naira. That’s a lot of items. So these are instances where the partnership has really worked. Ultimately, Nigeria, Nigerians, and humanity are the beneficiaries
“These are millions of opioids being brought into the country, worth billions of naira. They are not to be consumed by animals. They were meant to be consumed by our people. You know, the kind of damage, the extent of damage that would have caused to the health of our young people and to the public health at large,” he said.
Drug cartels using other neighbouring countries
Babafemi noted that cartels were getting desperate and seeking for other means to ply their illicit trade as the Agency continued to sustain the heat in the fight against substance abuse.
He said, “I’ll tell you again, because of the activities of the agency, quite a number of these drug cartels are running away from sending their illicit substances directly to Nigeria.
“So what some of them have chosen to do is to go and warehouse those things in some neighbouring countries and then try to bring them in the bits but already we’re ahead of them again in that regard and that’s why we have also strengthened our presence and the border entry points.
“That’s why we’ve also made quite a lot of seizures in those places. So head or tail, it’s an effort that is really, really yielding a lot of results.
“What we do is not hearsay. They are always backed with evidence. Our operations are evidence based and intelligence led.
These cases are compiled. They have physical evidence. They are things anybody can go and verify anywhere. The cases are going on in court and anybody can go and verify.
“For anybody that is arrested usually, apart from those that we consider who need help or treatment, but then everybody has their day in court. So that’s why we have that volume of convictions and ongoing cases in the courts.
What happens to seizures made by the NDLEA
According to the Agency, drugs that are seized are usually put together and destroyed after a successful prosecution.
“At the end of the prosecution of such cases, the court gives an order for the destruction of those drugs. These are open things and anybody can check. If you Google it you’ll see the pictures and videos. There is hardly any such public destruction or burning of exhibits that are done in secrecy.
“They are done publicly with local and international stakeholders present to witness, including the media. So they are usually destroyed because they have no secondary value. You can’t use them for any other thing because they are already processed. And they are not things that anybody can toy with because there are quite a lot of processes and mechanisms in place to ensure the integrity of the process.
“They are definitely destroyed and they are done publicly for the people to witness and see the end result. We ensure the resources of the cartels go up in flames, which is the message to them. We go after their money. It’s a message that their money, everything you have amassed is all going up in flames,” he said.
In commemoration of its 50th anniversary, Epe Club has hosted a day seminar to sensitise the youth on the effect of drug abuse.
The event, which took place at the Epe Club Secretariat, with the theme, Mental Health and Well-being: Helping Youths in Epe Division to Resist Drug Abuse, was focused on educating and empowering young people to resist the pressures and dangers associated with drug use.
Vice President, Epe Club, Niyi Uthman, emphasised the the importance of community action in safeguarding the future of young people.
He explained the harmful effects of drug abuse on physical health, mental well-being, and societal stability.
“One of the prevalent problems we have in Nigeria at the moment is effect of drug abuse. And we thought we should speak to these young people and tell them that, abusing drugs will destroy their future, will destroy their life. We’ll give practical examples and also encourage them, just to let them know that going forward, drugs is a no go area,” he said.
He added that, though, the government has a leading role to prevent youths from having access to drugs, society is a big problem.
He implored youths to prevent access to drugs and also urged local and civil societies to come together to help prevent youths from having access to drug.
“The take away for them is that we hope and we pray that we have contributed our own quota, in a little way, by exposing them to the evil of hard drugs, and therefore, prevent them from taking drugs.
‘‘Drugs only destroys. There’s nothing you get from drugs. It will give you a fleeting moment, enjoyment, highness, and that’s it,” he said.
Keynote Speaker, Professor of Psychology, Adekunle Ajasin University, Bolanle Ogungbamila, spoke on the importance of wellbeing and being able to resist the urge to abuse drugs.
He said: “This seminar is put together by the club to enlighten youths, including their parents about the problems of drug abuse and what we can do to help the youth to resist because drug, because there’s this urge. Once you are able to resist the urge, then you are out of it because you won’t be able to make bold to go ahead to implement your curiosity, to test the drug,” “You can’t get out of it until you go to a rehab. So that is what we are trying to do. Once we’re able to enlighten them, we educate them. Our aim is that after this program, most of them will be enlightened enough to be able to enlighten others. So we are talking of youth to youth enlightenment,” he added
Drug abuse in Nigeria has quietly grown into a full-blown crisis, ensnaring young Nigerians across every social stratum. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, 14.3 million Nigerians aged 15-64 years or one in seven people actively use drugs. The wave of substance abuse that once lurked in the shadows has surged into a visible epidemic, as substances from cannabis to opioids, and now nitrous oxide, infiltrate Nigerian communities; from crowded urban centers to rural villages. Udeh Onyebuchi reports.
In the sweltering heat of Lagos, Seun’s story could be anyone’s in Nigeria’s rising tide of drug abuse. The 32-year-old began his experimentation with substances at a casual party on Eleko Beach, where a friend offered him laughing gas, or nitrous oxide, as a party favour. The momentary euphoria quickly devolved into paranoia, sending him stumbling into the waves. It took timely efforts by his friends to rescue him from the raging waves.
The incident was only the beginning of his tumultuous relationship with drugs, a journey now shared by millions across Nigeria.
A Nigerian musician, Solidstar, known for his hit song, “Omotena,” found himself grappling with addiction after being introduced to crystal methamphetamine, or “ice,” by young people in his neighborhood in 2021. Curious and wanting to fit in with the crowd, he initially accepted the drug, not realising how deeply it would impact his life. The stimulant quickly began affecting his mental health, leading him to erratic behaviour and loss of control over his life.
Solidstar recalled one particular episode where he walked from Awoyaya in Ibeju Lekki to Oriental Hotel on Victoria Island, a seven-hour journey while under the influence. “It made me feel like a king, like I didn’t need to pay for anything,” he said, describing the powerful hallucinations and delusions the drug had on him. As his addiction deepened, Solidstar’s career and personal life began to suffer, until he realised he needed help.
Through determination and the support of family and friends, he sought the help he needed. Today, Solidstar is committed to using his platform to speak out against drug abuse, especially crystal meth, which is becoming alarmingly popular among Nigerian youth.
“If I can get out of it, so can you,” he tells his fans, encouraging them to steer clear of addiction.
Peter Ayo, a young man with a passion for dance, first encountered drugs when he was still in secondary school. His friends, impressed with his talent, told him that drugs could help him perform better on stage and enhance his moves. “They said if I wanted to be great at dancing, I needed to take tramadol,” Peter recalled.
Initially hesitant, he eventually caved to peer pressure and began using tramadol and other substances. While the drugs gave him bursts of energy, they soon took over his life. The money he earned from dance shows went directly toward feeding his addiction, and he began selling off personal belongings to fund his habit.
“I would buy things, then sell them just to buy more drugs. I didn’t realise how much I was losing,” he shared.
After a few years, Peter hit rock bottom, experiencing withdrawal symptoms and losing many of his dance opportunities. Desperate for a change, he confided in a counselor who encouraged him to check into the Hope Health Centre in Taraba. The center’s comprehensive rehabilitation programme helped Peter regain control over his life. Today, he is drug-free and advocates for drug abuse prevention among other young dancers, warning them of the dangerous path he nearly didn’t escape.
Lagos’s open drug markets
Numerous spots across Lagos are notorious for drug sales and consumption. Akala Street in Mushin has been a hub of drug trafficking and crime for years. Security agencies have repeatedly targeted Akala in raids. In a large-scale operation on May 30, 2013, a combined team from the NDLEA and the Nigerian Army arrested 47 suspects and seized over 3,000 kilograms of narcotics, including cannabis, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine. Despite these efforts, Akala remains a haven for drugs.
On Lagos Island, drug abuse and distribution are widespread, with neighbourhoods like Patey Street, Apatira and Idumota, being particularly notorious. Small hotels and brothels in these areas have evolved into havens for illicit drugs, with Patey Street particularly gaining a reputation as one of the most active hubs. In Ojo axis along Badagry Expressway, Alaba Rago, known for its bustling market, has also become a hotspot for drug sales and abuse.
In Oshodi and Isolo, drug abuse hotspots stretch across the area, with specific sites like the train tracks under the Oshodi bridge becoming infamous. Youths openly consume drugs, clutching bags of narcotics and selling to willing buyers. In Agege, locations like Oko-Oba Abattoir and Akerele Street along Ipaja Road are known centers of drug activities, where the sale and consumption of banned substances occur openly, with little interference from local authorities.
For years, drugs like tramadol, codeine and cannabis have dominated Nigeria’s illicit market. However, synthetic substances like crystal methamphetamine (locally known as “Ice”) and nitrous oxide are gaining popularity. The Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) regularly intercepts shipments of opioids hidden in everyday items, destined for cities across the country. In a recent raid, agents uncovered 2,760 kilograms of a potent cannabis strain known as “Ghanaian Loud” hidden underground in Lagos’ Ajah area.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi highlights the link between drug abuse and crime, stating, “The use of substances has been implicated in insecurity because crime generally tends to increase with substance use.”
Youth caught in the crossfire
Nigeria’s youth bear the brunt of this epidemic. Nearly 40% of drug users are under 25, and the allure of substances is potent for those facing limited educational or employment prospects. For many young people, substance abuse provides a temporary escape from economic hardship, social pressures or trauma. The economic strain of affording recreational drugs often forces young users to pool money with friends for a single canister of nitrous oxide, which is said to cost about 100,000 naira ($124).
An underfunded healthcare system
Mental health services in Nigeria are underfunded and poorly distributed. Despite the country’s massive population, fewer than 250 psychiatrists are licensed in Nigeria, and rehabilitation centers are mostly overcrowded and costly. Treatment can cost as much as N1 million per month in some private facilities. Professor Taiwo Obindo, president of the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria, observes that most hospitals lack the capacity to treat severe addiction cases, with limited facilities for long-term rehabilitation.
Social and political crisis
The escalating drug crisis has triggered a surge in criminal activity, compounding Nigeria’s existing security challenges. The NDLEA reports that drug use fuels everything from robbery and kidnappings to violent assaults and domestic abuse. NDLEA Chief, Retired Brigadier General Buba Marwa, has called for urgent action, likening the war on drugs to Nigeria’s ongoing battle with armed groups.
Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State remarked: “Drugs and crime go together. The best approach to stop crime is to stop the youths from using drugs.” However, Nigeria’s legal framework and treatment facilities remain insufficiently funded. The NDLEA has launched campaigns like the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) to encourage public awareness, yet more support is needed.
Rehabilitation, not incarceration
A glimmer of hope in Nigeria’s drug war is a shift toward empathy and rehabilitation. Public figures like Catholic Priest Father Cyriacus Kamai have opened up about their own struggles with addiction to raise awareness. Kamai, who went through rehabilitation, now runs programmes to guide others battling addiction.
“My own journey made me realise that rehabilitation is the only way forward. People need support, not condemnation,” he says.
An issue of national survival
At an NDLEA training session, the First Lady, Senator Oluemi Tinubu, called for a compassionate, multi-faceted response, urging society to “challenge the stigma and discrimination associated with addiction and foster empathy, understanding and solidarity toward those struggling with substance use disorder.”
She warned that if this issue remains unaddressed, it could undermine Nigeria’s future.
For Seun and others like him, therefore, a future free from drugs remains a distant hope. But with sustained attention from policymakers, the NDLEA, and the community, Nigeria may yet reclaim its youth from the grip of addiction.
Experts in Nigeria are increasingly concerned about the country’s rising drug abuse rates, urging the Federal Government to adopt a public health-centred approach.
This proposed strategy prioritizes reducing drug use while establishing a supportive legal framework to empower health interventions.
With roughly 14.4 percent of the population or about 14.3 million Nigerians, affected by drug use, public health experts argued that a comprehensive legal structure is critical for the Federal Ministry of Health to address this crisis effectively.
At a one-day media sensitization workshop in Abuja, themed ‘Public Health Approach to Drug Control Response in Nigeria’ and organized by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in partnership with Youth Rise Nigeria, experts advocated for treating drug dependency as a health issue rather than a criminal offence.
They stressed that many individuals struggling with drug dependency are dealing with health-related challenges.
The workshop highlighted the urgent need for a health-oriented approach to tackle what experts now view as a national drug dependency epidemic and the crucial role of the media in shaping public perception and reaction to drug abuse.
Chukwuma Anyaike, the Director of Public Health at the Federal Ministry of Health, argued that a public health approach is crucial for controlling drug issues in Nigeria.
He noted that existing supply-focused measures have limited access to treatment and prevention services, which has led to increased rates of HIV, tuberculosis, and hepatitis among people who inject drugs.
Anyaike called for a multidisciplinary approach integrating public health, legal, and social welfare frameworks and urged Nigeria to align with international standards such as the World Health Organization’s guidelines, the 2016 UN General Assembly Special Session on Drugs UNGASS), and the African Union (AU) Plan of Action to improve its response to drug abuse.
“This approach includes preventing drug use, providing treatment and care for individuals with substance use disorders, implementing harm reduction strategies, and ensuring access to controlled medications,” Anyaike explained.
Echoing these sentiments, Nonso Maduka, a Consultant with Youth Rise Nigeria, stressed the need for legislation that would facilitate a health-centered response to drug control.
Maduka argued that a supportive legal framework would help provide better resources and care for individuals, families, and communities affected by drug dependency, shifting away from the current punitive focus.
“Unfortunately, we have an unbalanced approach that targets mainly supply reduction, and the health sector lacks the legal authority to address demand, prevention, treatment, and harm reduction,” Maduka noted.
He highlighted that Nigeria’s current drug laws treat drug use as a criminal issue, which restricts health interventions and puts more strain on affected communities.
A public health perspective, he noted, could help curb drug dependency and reduce associated health risks like HIV and hepatitis.
Maduka also emphasized the importance of empowering local health initiatives and granting States authority to address drug challenges in their communities.
A health-focused legal framework, he noted, would allow targeted responses, including treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care.
Such a framework, according to him, would create a balanced approach that not only reduces drug abuse but also mitigates its harmful effects, ultimately supporting a healthier future for the nation.
“If you want to solve it, it must be driven by evidence,” Maduka added, calling for an evidence-based approach that balances criminal justice with health-focused interventions, which includes drug demand reduction, harm reduction, and access to necessary medications.
“Understanding underlying causes, such as pain management needs and rural challenges, is essential for developing compassionate and comprehensive responses,” he added.
Oluwafisayo Alao, the Executive Director of Youth Rise Nigeria, underscored the crucial role of the media in changing public perceptions around drug dependency, saying, “The way we approach substance use in Nigeria impacts the lives of millions of people.
“This media partnership is a vital step toward a compassionate, health-focused response. By creating a framework that prioritizes health over punishment, we aim to protect individuals, families, and communities”.
The founders of the Grace Thomas Foundation and Christopher Oghogho Foundation, Rejoice Wesley and Mrs. Oghogho Musa, have tasked women to contribute actively towards preventing drug abuse among youths in the country.
They said through the active participation of women the upsurge of drug abuse among youths in the country can be reduced by 50 percent.
The founders said this during a sensitization programme on the roles of family in drug abuse prevention in the country at the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) in Abuja.
Speaking on the role of the family in drug abuse prevention, Mrs Wesley said drug abuse is an issue that transcends boundaries and affects any family regardless of socioeconomic status, religious belief, or educational background.
According to her, when drug use is discovered within a family it often leads to considerable stress, conflict, and a pervasive sense of health stress.
She said: “The associated shame can cause both the family and the individual using drugs to deny the problem further complicating the path to recovery and support. Recognising these challenges, the 2024 Women and Family Drug Education Programme, (WOFADEP) has been organized by the Grace Thomas Foundation in collaboration with Christopher Oghogho Foundation.
“This initiative aims to tackle the problem of drug abuse from a family perspective, emphasizing the crucial role that families can play in preventing drug abuse.
“Investing in education reduces the percentage of drug use by 50 percent, hence the importance of this workshop, which is family education on the prevention of drug abuse.
“The programme’s objectives are to raise awareness about the dangers and repercussions of drug and substance abuse among young people, stimulate discussion on prevention strategies and contribute the foundation, formulation, and implementation of effective policies in Nigeria.”
In her remarks, the Founder of the Christopher Oghogho Foundation and Wife of Chief of Defence Staff, Mrs Oghogho Musa, said the programme is significant because of the position of women as an element of change in the family.
She said that educating mothers would enable them to understand the dangers of drug abuse, and ways to prevent it, and be active participants in helping family members overcome the issue.
