NDLEA: Nearly Three Million People Suffer from Drug Addiction in Northwest Nigeria

The Northwest geopolitical zone has one of the highest rates of substance abuse in Nigeria, with nearly three million people suffering from drug addiction, according to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Speaking at the "Stop Drug Abuse and Domestic Violence in Our Communities" campaign launch in Kaduna, NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) described drug misuse as a public health emergency requiring urgent intervention.

The awareness campaign, organized by the NDLEA and the National Orientation Agency (NOA), was flagged off by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Marwa cited findings from the 2018 National Drug Use Survey by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which revealed that:

• 14.3 million Nigerians aged 15–64 use psychoactive substances.
• Drug addiction is on the rise, with serious social and health consequences.

To combat the growing crisis, Marwa urged state governments, lawmakers, local officials, and private sector stakeholders to support the NDLEA's fight against drug abuse.

He also called on parents, community leaders, religious figures, and traditional rulers to actively participate in drug prevention and rehabilitation efforts.

"The success of this campaign depends on everyone. Parents, traditional rulers, pastors, and imams must help prevent drug abuse, support victims, and ensure traffickers face justice," he stated.

As part of its anti-drug initiatives, the NDLEA has established 30 counseling and rehabilitation centers nationwide. These facilities provide:

• Medical care and referrals
• Social reintegration programs
• Psychosocial support for recovering drug users

Over the past four years, the NDLEA has rehabilitated 22,047 individuals, offering them counseling, treatment, and reintegration support.