The Federal Government on Wednesday unveiled a renewed national strategy to combat illicit drug trafficking and substance abuse, reaffirming its commitment to dismantle drug cartels, expand access to treatment and rehabilitation, and protect young Nigerians from the growing threat of addiction.
The commitment was made at the opening of the National Drug Use Summit in Abuja, where government officials, security agencies, development partners and civil society organisations converged to develop a coordinated response to the country’s evolving drug challenge.
Speaking at the summit, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, declared that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remained resolute in confronting illicit drug use and trafficking through strengthened law enforcement, expanded rehabilitation services and preventive interventions.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, Dr. Adamu Kana, the SGF said the Federal Government was committed to dismantling trafficking syndicates while promoting the health and well-being of Nigerians.
“On behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I reaffirm our unwavering commitment to every initiative aimed at preventing illicit drug use, dismantling trafficking networks, expanding access to treatment and rehabilitation, and promoting the wellbeing of all Nigerians,” Akume said.
He warned that drug abuse poses a serious threat to national development, stressing that no country could achieve sustainable growth while its youthful population remained vulnerable to addiction.
“No nation can achieve sustainable development when its young population is threatened by drug abuse and addiction. No society can attain lasting peace and prosperity when criminal networks engaged in illicit trafficking continue to undermine its institutions and exploit its vulnerabilities,” he added.
Akume noted that under the Renewed Hope Agenda, the Federal Government is strengthening institutions, promoting mental health, empowering young people and building resilient communities to address emerging social challenges.
The summit, themed “Addressing Illicit Drug Use and Trafficking: A Call to National Action,” was jointly organised by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
In his welcome address, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), called for the adoption of a comprehensive National Action Plan to tackle Nigeria’s drug crisis through a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.
According to Marwa, the complexity of the country’s drug challenge has outgrown the capacity of any single institution, making broad-based collaboration essential.
“The scale of this challenge demands a whole-of-government and whole-of-society response, one that mobilises every stakeholder—government institutions, communities, families, development partners, the private sector, religious and traditional leaders, civil society and the media,” he said.
He explained that the proposed National Action Plan would strengthen drug prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, policy implementation, data collection and community resilience.
Highlighting the agency’s recent operational successes, Marwa disclosed that the NDLEA arrested 29,262 suspects over the past 18 months, seized 5.3 million kilogrammes of assorted illicit drugs with an estimated street value exceeding ₦1.5 trillion, and secured 5,225 convictions.
He also revealed that the agency organised 6,645 drug prevention and sensitisation programmes in schools, markets, places of worship, workplaces, correctional facilities and communities nationwide, reaching nearly five million Nigerians.
In addition, 13,508 individuals suffering from substance use disorders received counselling, treatment and rehabilitation through the agency’s 31 rehabilitation centres across the country.
Marwa further announced the implementation of the Alternative Development Initiative, aimed at supporting cannabis farmers to transition from illicit cultivation to legitimate agricultural enterprises and other sustainable livelihoods.
Also speaking, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, challenged stakeholders to ensure that the summit delivers measurable outcomes rather than remaining another policy dialogue.
“The measure of this summit will not be the communique. It will be the number of young people who choose not to start drugs. It will be the number of patients who sleep without pain. It will be the number of families restored,” the minister said, pledging the ministry’s full support for coordinated national interventions.
Similarly, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) urged Nigeria to translate policy commitments into concrete action.
Speaking on behalf of the UNODC Country Representative, Mr. Cheikh Toure, Dr. Akanidomo Ibanga described the summit as a critical opportunity to implement practical, evidence-based strategies capable of addressing the country’s changing drug landscape.
He observed that the emergence of new psychoactive substances and evolving patterns of drug abuse require stronger collaboration among government institutions, development partners and civil society organisations, backed by reliable data and measurable interventions.
The National Drug Use Summit attracted participants from ministries, departments and agencies, the armed forces, security services, international development organisations, non-governmental organisations and civil society groups, reflecting a broad consensus that sustained collaboration is essential to strengthening Nigeria’s fight against illicit drug use, trafficking and organised criminal networks.
