Abuja, Jan. 23, 2025 – The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says approximately 14.3 million Nigerians are involved in drug abuse.
Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, its Director-General, disclosed this in Port Harcourt on Wednesday during the inaugural ceremony of the agency’s youth-focused initiative, “Catch Them Young,”.
She said that research had indicated that one in four high-risk drug users in Nigeria had been arrested for drug-related offences.
According to her, these arrests comprise 73 per cent for drug possession, 12 per cent for theft, five per cent for sex work, four per cent for burglary, and two per cent for shoplifting.
‘’Note that this data only shows the number of arrests; if we consider that most crimes are unreported, then we will see that we have a huge problem on hands,’’ she said.
Adeyeye, however, noted the negative effects of drug abuse on families, society, and the nation’s socio-economic development.
She explained that the situation caused NAFDAC to initiate a comprehensive, coordinated, and intensive programme, designed to reduce the prevalence of drug abuse among secondary school students.
According to the DG, drug addiction can rise from both prescribed medicines and illicit drugs.
“This programme is not designed to scare anyone but to have honest conversations with you. This will help you to take informed decisions with regards to illicit drug use, including alcohol consumption,’’ she said.
Onogwu Emmanuel, the NAFDAC State Coordinator for Rivers, said the rationale behind moving the sensitisation and capacity-building programme to secondary schools.
He said that secondary school students were among the most vulnerable groups, stressing the importance of engaging youths, who are the future leaders, in the fight against drug abuse.
Emmanuel said two schools were selected from each of the three senatorial zones in Rivers State for the pilot phase of the initiative.
