How Drug Abuse Threatens Nigeria’s Future
By Sharon Shekwoyemilo
Nigeria’s battle against insecurity, poverty, and economic hardship has exposed yet another crisis silently eating away at the nation’s stability—drug abuse. With an alarming prevalence rate of 14.4%, one of the highest in the world, substance abuse has grown into a national emergency demanding urgent and collective action.
This reality came into sharp focus during the 7th Security and Emergency Management Awards and Conference (SAEMA 2025), hosted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at its headquarters in Abuja. The event did more than highlight statistics—it presented a stark picture of a society at risk of losing an entire generation to drugs.
Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, delivered a sobering message: drug abuse is no longer just a law enforcement concern but a full-blown public health crisis with long-term consequences for families, communities, and national development.
“The erosion of human capital is one of the most devastating outcomes of drug abuse,” Marwa cautioned. “That should concern every patriotic Nigerian.”
His remarks were backed by startling figures. Between January and October 2025 alone, the NDLEA arrested 16,304 suspects, secured about 3,000 convictions, destroyed over 612 hectares of cannabis farms, and seized more than 4.5 million kilogrammes of illicit substances. These are massive achievements, yet they barely scratch the surface of a deeply rooted problem driven by poverty, unemployment, trauma, and lack of access to quality healthcare.
To many experts, this is proof that Nigeria can no longer rely solely on enforcement. Mrs. Olasimbo (Simbo) Adeoshun, a Senior Mental Health and Social Care Worker based in the United Kingdom, stressed the need for a systemic, compassionate approach.
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“Drug abuse isn’t just a crime—it’s a mental health and social welfare issue,” she noted. “Law enforcement alone cannot solve it. Support, treatment, rehabilitation, and continuous follow-up are essential if we want to break the cycle.”
Adeoshun emphasized that drug abuse contributes significantly to mental illness, especially among young people. Cannabis, tramadol, and codeine remain the most commonly abused substances. Peer pressure, trauma, and socio-economic hardship further fuel addiction, trapping millions in destructive patterns that affect not just individuals, but entire families and communities.
Her message was clear: drug abuse can affect anyone. Fighting it requires action, compassion, and structure. Rehabilitation centres must be accessible, properly funded, and supported by long-term follow-up programmes to ensure full recovery and reintegration.
SAEMA 2025 served as a powerful reminder that drug abuse is now one of Nigeria’s most urgent national threats. While the NDLEA continues to lead on enforcement, particularly through its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative, the agency cannot fight this war alone. Community leaders, civil society groups, religious institutions, mental health professionals, and families all have critical roles to play.
The government, too, must invest more deliberately in mental health infrastructure, public awareness campaigns, and economic policies that address the root causes of addiction. Without these interventions, Nigeria risks watching its youth—its most valuable asset—disappear into the shadows of drugs.
The truth is painful but inescapable: the cost of inaction will be a generation lost.
Nigeria is running out of time. The country must choose between confronting this crisis boldly or allowing drug abuse to undermine everything it hopes to build.
The clock is ticking.
Sharon Shekwoyemilo, a PRNigeria Fellow.
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