President Bola Tinubu has called on all Nigerians to join the fight against drug abuse and trafficking, describing it as a national movement beyond government efforts.
President Tinubu said, the fight against drug abuse requires collective national action, involving families, faith leaders, civil society, youth groups, and communities.
The President made the call during his keynote speech at the 2025 World Drug Day event at the State House in Abuja.
He emphasised the importance of people with lived experience, saying their stories inspire and their leadership is vital in the fight against drug abuse.
Tinubu noted that drug abuse is linked to poverty, inequality, violence, and conflict and must be addressed comprehensively.
“We must foster peace, promote inclusive development, and protect human rights at every stage,” he said.
Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to international efforts against illicit drug trafficking and abuse, saying, “Together, we can dismantle systems sustaining this crisis and build a future of prevention, treatment, and celebrated recovery.”
The President praised the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Chairman, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd.), for his global success in disrupting drug networks.
In his remarks, Marwa warned of the urgency of prevention due to Nigeria’s high abuse rate and youthful population.
According to Marwa, a 2018 survey exposed Nigeria’s alarmingly high drug abuse prevalence, with over 230 million people, making prevention a pragmatic national priority.
He urged parents and community leaders to shield children from exposure to illicit substances.
The NDLEA Chairman revealed that the agency has made major arrests and seizures across the country, including 66,085 suspects arrested, 94 drug barons, and over 11 million kilogrammes of drugs seized.
He also noted that over 12,000 convictions have been secured, with some traffickers receiving life sentences.
