Drug Abuse Threatens Nigeria’s Workforce, NDLEA Intercepts Warehouse In Delta
By PAULINA NZERUBE
NIGERIA’S drug abuse problem has reached a level that now threatens public safety and economic stability, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has said, warning that unchecked substance use could undermine national development.
Delta State NDLEA Commander Halilu Hamidu revealed that data from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime shows that 14.4 per cent of Nigerians within the productive age bracket of 15 to 64 currently abuse drugs. He added that 10.4 per cent of the population uses psychoactive substances, with female users accounting for 25 per cent, reflecting how drug abuse has spread beyond traditional risk groups.
Hamidu said Delta State mirrors these national figures, noting that drug abuse in several communities has evolved into a social and security challenge, contributing to crime, family breakdowns and declining economic participation among youths.
He said the NDLEA has elevated drug control to a top security and public health priority, intensifying arrests, dismantling trafficking routes and prosecuting offenders, while also expanding counselling, rehabilitation and community sensitisation programmes.
The NDLEA commander disclosed that a recent raid on a warehouse at Oko Market in Asaba led to the interception of large quantities of dangerous drugs, including Tramadol, Codeine, Exol-5, Diazepam and Rohypnol. He warned that the stockpile, if distributed, could have fuelled addiction and crime across the state.
Hamidu said investigations are ongoing to identify those behind the warehouse, stressing that the agency remains committed to disrupting drug networks and safeguarding communities, particularly during the festive season.
