NIGERIA: NDLEA Intensifies Nationwide Campaign Against Drug Abuse in Tertiary Institutions

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria

In a show of commitment to curbing substance abuse among Nigerian youths, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has led a coordinated national campaign across universities to commemorate the 2025 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

Themed “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention,” the campaign spanned campuses from Lagos to Abuja and beyond, with focused outreach to the most vulnerable demographic, young people in tertiary institutions.

At Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo Campus, the NDLEA joined forces with the Office of the First Lady of Lagos State, the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, and other government parastatals in a high-energy, student-centered event.

Representing the NDLEA at the event, Lagos State Commander, Mr. Abubakar Wali, highlighted the escalating crisis of drug abuse among youths, describing it as not just a health concern but a threat to national security.

Wali said: “The youth are Nigeria’s greatest asset, but substance abuse is stealing their future in silence. We must address this with urgency, empathy, and resolve.”

He emphasized the NDLEA’s multi-pronged strategy: enforcement, education, and rehabilitation.

Also speaking at the event, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, First Lady of Lagos State, reinforced the importance of prevention and early intervention. Dressed in solidarity attire along with hundreds of LASU students, she condemned the rising trend of substance use among young people.

She said: “Drug abuse is a silent killer and a destiny destroyer. We must all be part of the prevention movement—parents, teachers, religious leaders, and most especially, the youth themselves.”

Placards with messages such as “Say No to Drug Abuse,” “You Can Quit If You Seek Help,” and “Drug Trafficking is Illegal and Punishable” were carried during the walk, creating a visual echo of the urgency the event sought to convey.

Professor Ibiyemi Tunji-Bello, the Vice Chancellor of LASU, revealed troubling statistics during her keynote speech.

“Recent data shows that over 14.3 million Nigerians between ages 15 and 20 have used drugs at least once. This is a crisis, one that can only be solved through collective, sustained efforts,” she said.

The campaign at LASU concluded with the presentation of an Advocacy Award to the First Lady for her consistent role in promoting drug abuse prevention and youth development.

Simultaneously, at the University of Abuja, the NDLEA launched another powerful anti-drug campaign in collaboration with key stakeholders, including the MTN Foundation.

The event was led by Mr. Shadrach Haruna, Secretary of the NDLEA, who represented the Agency’s Chairman/CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), CON, OFR. Hundreds of students, civil society advocates, and government representatives joined a Walk Against Substance Abuse, marching through the university’s main roads with banners and awareness messages.

Haruna said: “Today, we stand together in Abuja to say no to the scourge of drug addiction. This walk is more than symbolic. It’s strategic. We are pushing prevention to the forefront where it belongs.”

Also present was Odunayo Sanya, Executive Secretary of the MTN Foundation, who reaffirmed the private sector’s role in combating drug abuse through education, funding, and partnerships.

The Abuja campaign included mobile testing demonstrations, educational brochures, etc.