. Demand national emergency over youths drug crisis
The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Gen Buba Marwa (rtd) and other experts have raised the alarm over growing substance abuse that is reshaping the national conversation, saying there is the need for national emergency to tackle the social menace in the interest of future generations.
Marwa and other experts, including the President of Recovery Advocacy Network, Dr Adekunle Adesina, gave the warning at the weekend in Abuja during the third edition of “Fly Above the High” conference. The event was put in place to spark awareness and collective response for a sweeping national response.
Echoing the urgency to tackle the social menace, Gen Marwa described substance abuse as a destabilising force with far-reaching implications. The NDLEA Chairman, who was represented at the conference by the agency’s FCT strategic commander, Julius Dzer, outlined how the issue extends beyond individuals to affect families, communities and the nation’s broader development trajectory.
According to Marwa, “Substance abuse affects our brains and also how difficult it is to come out of it. It erases advancement for the youth. It affects the families, and it affects the society.
“It affects personal development. It affects societal development. It affects the economy. It affects the security of the country.
“Don’t attempt to experiment. Don’t attempt to start it. It holds no good for anyone”, Marwa added.
In his lecture at the event, Dr Adesina disclosed that the declaration of national emergency against substance abuse would galvanise key institutions, including the Ministries of Health and Education alongside the NDLEA into a unified strategy addressing both prevention and treatment.
Rather than reacting after exposure to substance abuse, Adesina emphasised the need to reach out to the youths earlier.
He advocated integrating carefully designed drug education into the curriculum for pupils between the ages of eight and 10, stressing that shielding young minds begins with timely knowledge.
According to Adesina, there is the need to increase investment in counselling services at the earliest stages, saying that prompt support reduces long-term societal strain.
“Early investment saves both lives and resources,” he said.
He further highlighted the importance of tightening oversight around prescription practices and regulating widely misused substances such as codeine and tramadol.
Beyond policy, Adesina called for a cultural shift, encouraging society to recognise substance dependence as a medical condition requiring care, rather than condemnation.
In this reframed approach, he pointed to the roles of faith-based institutions, community influencers and the media in reshaping public understanding and offering support pathways.
Adesina also made a case for the training of frontline figures—healthcare workers, school counsellors and religious leaders— identified as critical in spotting early warning signs and directing young people toward help before dependency takes hold.
He added that parents must not be passive observers, saying that open discussions about drugs and peer influence should begin early, while routine drug testing should be seen through the lens of prevention rather than discipline.
Offering a complementary perspective, another expert and former President of the Nigerian Army Officers Wives’ Association (NAOWA), Hajiya Salamatu Farouq Yahaya, underscored the stabilising power of family structures in recovery journeys.
She further stressed that individuals battling substance abuse are more likely to regain control within environments defined by empathy and consistency.
Rejecting blame-driven approaches, Mrs Salamatu Yahaya described harsh criticism as counterproductive, instead advocating patience, understanding and encouragement. Emotional and psychological support, she noted, are indispensable in helping affected individuals rebuild their lives.
“Families should realise that drug abuse is a disease, and the way out lies in support, counselling and avoiding stigmatisation,” she said.
Further reinforcing the call for systemic change, one of the experts at the event, Dr. Samuel Abah, urged stronger regulatory enforcement, wider access to rehabilitation facilities and sustained public awareness campaigns. Together, these measures, he argued, would strengthen both prevention frameworks and recovery outcomes.
It is instructive to note that while enforcement efforts have been strengthened to curb supply and reduce demand, stakeholders insist that enforcement alone cannot resolve the crisis.
