Northwest has three million drug addicts – NDLEA

By Adamu David

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has revealed that approximately three million people in the Northwest geopolitical zone are struggling with drug addiction.

Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, disclosed during the flag-off ceremony of the Northwest geo-political zone campaign against the use of illicit drugs in Kaduna on Monday.

The NDLEA boss said the sensitisation campaign with the theme, ‘Stop drug abuse and domestic violence in our communities’ is a testament to the commitment to building a society free from the devastating consequences of substance abuse.

The sensitisation programme was facilitated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in collaboration with the NDLEA.

“We are faced with a major public health crisis. The 2018 National Drug Use Survey conducted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) revealed an alarming reality: 14.3 million Nigerians aged 15–64 use psychoactive substances,” Marwa said.

He noted that the North-West zone, comprising seven states of Kaduna, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Kebbi, Zamfara and Sokoto, has been ravaged by the scourge of drug abuse, with Kano having the highest prevalence rate of 16 per cent.

“A closer look at the North-West geopolitical zone presents an even more concerning picture. With an estimated 25 million people in 2016, this zone remains the most populous in Nigeria.

“The survey estimated that 12 percent of the region’s population—approximately three million people—are drug users,” Marwa said.

The NDLEA boss emphasised the need for collective action to combat drug abuse, calling on state governments, lawmakers, local authorities, and private stakeholders to partner with the agency to ensure lasting solutions.

“The success of this campaign requires the support of everyone. Parents, community leaders, traditional rulers, pastors and imams must strengthen their resolve to prevent drug abuse, support those affected by it, and ensure that drug traffickers face the full force of the law,” he said.

Marwa also disclosed that the NDLEA has established 30 counselling and rehabilitation centres nationwide, providing psychosocial interventions, medical care, referrals, and social reintegration for recovering drug users.

“A total of 22,047 persons have been counselled, treated and rehabilitated through these facilities in the past four years,” Marwa noted.