The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has unveiled a comprehensive five-year strategy aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s response to crime, corruption, terrorism, and drug trafficking.
Speaking at a media dialogue in Abuja, the UNODC Representative in Nigeria, Cheikh Toure, said the initiative—tagged the UNODC Nigeria Country Programme 2026–2030—provides a coordinated framework to address the country’s evolving security and governance challenges.
The event, held at the United Nations House, brought together journalists and UN officials to examine the programme and highlight the role of the media in shaping public awareness on issues such as drug trafficking, organised crime, and violent extremism. Toure commended the Nigerian media for consistently amplifying critical national and global concerns related to crime and security.
He noted that while Nigeria remains a country of significant potential and regional influence, it continues to face complex and interconnected threats, including organised crime, corruption, terrorism, and emerging technology-driven risks. According to him, these challenges require integrated responses that combine justice, security, governance, and social protection systems.
Toure stated that the new Country Programme represents UNODC’s first comprehensive framework of its kind for Nigeria, reflecting a more strategic approach to collaboration with national institutions and development partners.
The programme is structured around four key pillars: justice and the rule of law, security and counter-terrorism, anti-corruption and governance, and the protection of vulnerable groups. It is also aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, while supporting Nigeria’s national development priorities.
According to Toure, the strategy will pursue five core outcomes, including strengthening crime prevention and criminal justice systems, combating corruption and illicit financial flows, enhancing counter-terrorism efforts, addressing organised crime, and improving evidence-based responses to drug production, trafficking, and addiction.
He emphasised that the programme adopts an integrated approach that combines legal, social, economic, and security interventions to tackle both the root causes and consequences of crime and instability. It also incorporates foresight analysis to anticipate emerging threats such as cybercrime, environmental crime, risks affecting children, and gaps in justice and law enforcement systems.
Toure added that inclusivity, human rights, and gender sensitivity remain central to the strategy, ensuring that interventions benefit all segments of society, particularly vulnerable populations.
He disclosed that UNODC will formally launch the Nigeria Country Programme in due course and will continue to collaborate closely with government agencies, civil society organisations, and the media to promote informed and responsible public discourse.
“The road ahead will not be easy, but the foundation is strong, the partnerships are real, and the commitment is unwavering,” he said.
