President Bola Tinubu has reinforced his commitment to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in its battle against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.
This assurance was made during the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, celebrated at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, President Tinubu emphasized the importance of prevention under the theme “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention.”
He called on all citizens to support the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative, launched by the NDLEA three years ago.
“I commend and urge everyone to redouble their efforts to combat drug abuse and trafficking in the country,”
Tinubu stated, reaffirming the administration’s dedication to protecting the youth as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Highlighting the global impact of drug abuse, President Tinubu noted that prevention is the most effective strategy.
“Prevention not only saves lives; it also saves resources that would otherwise be spent on treatment and rehabilitation,” he said.
He stressed the importance of investing in evidence-based prevention programs to break the cycle of drug abuse and safeguard the future of Nigerian youth.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd), introduced the “Save Our Families” social advocacy campaign, aimed at early detection and intervention through the use of special drug test kits. These kits are designed for use in homes, schools, and workplaces to detect 15 different substances.
Marwa emphasized that the Drug Integrity Test initiative, targeting secondary school students, government and private sector workers, and political office seekers, is a preventive measure to foster an anti-drug culture.
Marwa reported significant outreach through the WADA social advocacy initiative, which has conducted thousands of educational programs targeting both in-school and out-of-school youth. The initiative has been instrumental in spreading anti-substance abuse messages through various media platforms.
Outgoing UNODC Country Representative, Dr. Oliver Stolpe, recommended expanding successful prevention programs to all public and private secondary schools and enhancing resilience against drug use through initiatives like sports-based programs.
He also highlighted the need for updated national drug use data to measure the effectiveness of ongoing efforts.
Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman, supported the NDLEA’s drug test campaign, emphasizing the importance of compulsory and sustained testing in schools.
He pledged to work with the NDLEA to integrate these measures into the education system.
The event saw calls from various stakeholders, including members of the National Assembly, for increased budgetary support for the NDLEA.
This included input from Senator Sadiq Umar, Attorney General of the Federation Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, MTN Foundation Chairman Prince Julius Adelusi Adeluyi, and guest lecturer Dr. Vincent Udenze.
The consensus was clear: a united, well-supported effort is crucial to combating the drug menace in Nigeria.
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