The Nigeria Governors’ Spouses’ Forum (NGSF) has asserted that the success of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is critically dependent on the effective prosecution of the war against illicit drug trafficking and substance abuse.
In a communiqué delivered by the First Lady of Ogun State, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, on behalf of the Forum’s Chairperson and First Lady of Kwara State, Prof. Olufolake Abdulrazaq, at the close of a training workshop jointly organized by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the NGSF in Abuja, the Forum emphasized that curbing drug abuse is central to achieving the administration’s vision for holistic national development.
The Forum voiced grave concern over Nigeria’s escalating drug abuse crisis, warning that the scourge has infiltrated all levels of society, threatening the well-being, safety, and security of individuals, families, and communities.
Recognizing states as pivotal stakeholders in combating the drug epidemic, the Forum urged the implementation of localized strategies and stronger inter-sector collaboration aligned with national frameworks to effectively address community-specific challenges.
Commending the NDLEA’s achievements under the leadership of Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.), the Forum praised the agency’s successes in arrests, prosecutions, seizures, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation efforts.
As part of its resolutions, the Forum called for an expansion of State Drug Control Committees (SDCCs) to all 36 states, beyond the current nine functional committees, and recommended leveraging the influence of First Ladies to facilitate their establishment. It further advocated for the formation of Local Government Drug Abuse Committees to ensure grassroots-level implementation of drug demand reduction programs.
The Forum urged the Federal Government and state governors to declare a state of emergency on drug use and trafficking, stressing the need for urgent, pragmatic, and coordinated action to combat the drug-fueled public health and security challenges facing the nation.
Additionally, the Forum resolved to sustain the Drug Abuse Prevention Treatment and Care (DPTC) programmes in states, chaired by First Ladies, as a platform for community-based prevention and treatment strategies.
It underscored the necessity of forging robust partnerships with the private sector, civil society, and key stakeholders to enhance resources and infrastructure for comprehensive community-based initiatives. The Forum reaffirmed its commitment to supporting NDLEA commands in states to ensure integrated and enduring responses that combine enforcement, prevention, treatment, and recovery.
Finally, it called for sustainable, people-centered development initiatives focused on prevention, social support, stigma reduction, and inclusive policies aimed at addressing the root causes of drug abuse and fostering resilient, healthy communities.
