14.3m Nigerians Live On Drugs, NDLEA Chairman, Marwa Cries Out

lahor global magazine1 year ago1 year ago1276 mins

…Says One In Four Drug Users In Nigeria Is Female

The Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brig General Buba Marwa, has raised the concern over the high uses of drugs among Nigerians, saying that 14.3 million Nigerians youths are living on drugs.

He said that those in the aged brackets between 15 and 64, use psychoactive substances with the North-West geopolitical zone accounting for approximately three million.

Marwa disclosed this while giving his keynote address at the flag-off programme on sensitisation campaign against drug abuse and domestic violence in the North West yesterday, February 24, 2025, Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brig General Buba Marwa described the development as a matter of urgent national importance.

He said that this alarming reality was revealed by the 2018 National Drug Use Survey conducted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

The NDLEA boss added that the survey showed that one in four drug users in Nigeria is a female, while one in five suffers from drug use disorder.

He maintained that the North West comprising Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states, have the highest prevalence of drug use, with Kano topping the list at 16 percent

“I would like to begin by commending the National Orientation Agency (NOA) for organising this event and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, for facilitating this crucial initiative aimed at reorienting the people of the North-West geopolitical zone against the scourge of drug abuse.

“This effort is a testament to your commitment to building a society free from the devastating consequences of substance abuse.

“A closer look at the North West geopolitical zone, comprising Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara states, presents an even more concerning picture.

“With an estimated 25 million people in 2016, this zone remains the most populous in Nigeria. The survey estimated that 12 percent of the region’s population, approximately three million people, are drug users.

“The most commonly abused substances include cannabis, followed by the non-medical use of opioids, such as tramadol, codeine and morphine, as well as cough syrups containing codeine or dextromethorphan.

“A state-by-state breakdown of drug use prevalence in the North West shows that Kano has the highest rate at 16.0 percent, with approximately 1,070,000 drug users, followed by Zamfara at 13.5 percent (312,000 users), Kebbi at 12.6 percent (286,000 users), Katsina at 12.0 percent (481,000 users), Kaduna at 10 percent (462,000 users), Sokoto at 9.0 percent (230,000 users) and Jigawa at 7.0 percent (211,000 users).

“These figures are deeply troubling and underscore the urgent need for collective action to combat drug abuse and its devastating consequences,” he decried.

Meanwhile, Abbas has emphasised the urgent need to address drug abuse and domestic violence in Nigeria, particularly in the North West region.

He noted that the NDLEA reported a 25 percent rise in drug abuse in the region over the past three years, with a 28 percent increase in drug seizures in Kaduna State alone in 2023.

“Domestic violence is also a significant concern, with nearly 35 percent of women nationwide experiencing some forms of domestic violence. In the Northwest, the situation is even more alarming, with up to 40 percent of women in Kano experiencing domestic abuse.

“To address these challenges, the government has increased funding for the NDLEA, provided modern tools and training, and launched initiatives to expand rehabilitation centres and community-based outreach programmes.

“The government has also introduced robust legal reforms and reinforced policies to protect victims of domestic violence,” he stated.

The Speaker, therefore, called on state and local governments as well as chairmen and community leaders to support the initiative and work together to protect the youths from drug abuse and uphold dignity.