On May 6, 2025, a significant call was made to state governments to embrace community-based interventions aimed at tackling the growing problem of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria. The appeal came during a training workshop organized by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for members of the Nigeria Governors’ Spouses’ Forum in Abuja.
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, represented by Hajiya Laila Jibrin Barau, highlighted the urgency of addressing the widespread drug abuse issue, particularly among adolescents. She emphasized that the drug crisis permeates communities nationwide, affecting health, safety, and the future of young people, and underscored the need for a concerted effort involving enforcement, education, family support, and sustained intervention at the grassroots level.
Brig-Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa, Chairman of NDLEA, spoke about the agency’s efforts to combat drug trafficking, including the arrest of over 62,000 drug suspects, the seizure of millions of kilograms of drugs, and the destruction of large cannabis farms. He stressed the importance of both reducing drug supply and addressing the demand through treatment and counseling programs.
UNODC representative Cheikh Ousmane Toure also reiterated that the solution to the drug crisis lies within local communities, urging state governments to integrate evidence-based strategies into their cultural contexts and decentralize access to treatment. Dr. Daniel Amankwaah of ECOWAS echoed these sentiments, calling for increased investment in prevention and treatment efforts at the state and community levels.
