Nigeria's Drug Abuse Crisis Threatens National Development

The Federal Government of Nigeria has issued a warning regarding the threats posed by drug abuse and illicit trafficking to the nation's development. During a summit held in Abuja, with the theme addressing illicit drug use and trafficking, Georg Akum, representing the Permanent Secretary of the General Service Office, emphasized that the fight against drug abuse cannot be the sole responsibility of any single agency or sector.

He noted that drug use and trafficking have become major global threats affecting public health, national security, and economic development. Akum highlighted the rising cases of mental illness, broken families, and increased crime linked to drug abuse, particularly among vulnerable Nigerian youth.

The summit, attended by various stakeholders, including Brig Gen Buba Marwa, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), called for enhanced intelligence sharing and inter-agency collaboration. The NDLEA reported significant successes in combating drug trafficking, with 29,262 arrests and the seizure of drugs valued at approximately N1.5 trillion over the past 18 months.