‘Cheap, Synthetic Drugs Killing Akwa Ibom Youths’

Acting First Lady of Akwa Ibom State, Mrs Helen Eno-Obareki, has raised lamented that illicit drugs churned out by barons from hidden laboratories have flooded the state.

She said the menace had the potential of rendering the youth population inactive to engage in meaningful socio-economic ventures.

Lady Obareki, the coordinator of the Office of the First Lady and Chairperson of the Akwa Ibom State Drug Control Committee (AKSDCC), solicited for an action plan to curb the scourge by insulating the vulnerable youths from cheap substances through high level sensitisation campaigns.

Advocating for a major shift towards digital vigilance and grassroots mobilisation in combating the evolving threats of substance abuse and community vandalism across the state, she tasked the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other security agencies to collaborate to stem the drug scourge amongst youths.

Obareki expressed the concern at the weekend at a one-day sensitisation workshop organised by the state’s Ministry of Youth Development in commemoration of the 2026 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, in Uyo, the state capital.

The event was put together for members of the State’s Forum of Village Youth Presidents (FVYP) in conjunction with the  State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN).

Reflecting on the global theme, “The World Drug Problem: Persisting Issues, New Challenges, Innovative Responses,” Lady Obareki emphasised that traditional approach methods are no longer sufficient. She warned that social media and digital platforms have completely revolutionised how illicit substances are marketed, creating a dangerous trend where drug use is normalised and made easily accessible to vulnerable young people.

The AKSDCC Chairperson highlighted the deep socio-economic damage caused by drug abuse, noting that it severely drains youth productivity, fuels grassroots crime or cultism, and breeds counterproductive social stigma.

She further cautioned against the quiet rise of lethal synthetic drugs being produced in hidden labs, which target anxious or stressed youths with cheap, highly addictive alternatives.

To dismantle the ugly trends, Lady Obareki noted the state government’s commitment to prioritising rural development and youth empowerment under Governor Umo Eno’s ARISE Agenda, and urged the youths to embrace the scheme to secure their future.

She explained that “the Office of the First Lady is actively countering the root causes of drug vulnerability such as idleness and unemployment through the Patience Umo Eno Golden Initiative for All (GIFA), which deploys skills acquisition and grassroots mentorship to replace artificial escapes with tangible economic hope.”

Tagging the conferees as the “generals on the front lines” of the battle, Mrs. Obareki, urged them to carry the anti-drug advocacy back to their respective villages, wards, and campuses, while leveraging on their localised influence to expose the dangers of synthetic substances and ultimately diffuse the false glamour away from drug abuse.

“I charge you today to take this advocacy beyond this hall into every village, ward, and campus represented here. Use your social media platforms, your youth structures, and your community assemblies to expose the dangers of synthetic drugs and dismantle the false glamour surrounding substance abuse.

“Be a shield and provide support for our present and younger generations. Identify vulnerable peers who are slipping away, guide them toward rehabilitation, and partner aggressively with relevant State agencies to ensure our communities remain hostile zones for drug traffickers, but safe havens for recovery.

“Never underestimate the immense power of your localised actions because real, structural transformation always begins when ordinary, determined leaders decide to take absolute responsibility for the sanctity of their communities”, she stressed.

Setting the tone for the event, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Youth Development, Dr. Ekerette Ekanem, described drug abuse as a growing threat to public health, security and social development, as the state joined the rest of the world to commemorate the 2026 International Day Against Drug Abuse. Dr. Ekanem said the increasing rate of substance abuse among young people has contributed to the destruction of public and private property, disruption of peace and order, as well as serious health challenges arising from addiction. He noted that many youths engage in drug use without fully understanding its harmful effects, expressing confidence that the awareness programme would equip participants with the knowledge needed to make informed choices.

The Commissioner explained that village youth presidents were deliberately selected for the sensitisation programme to enable them take the anti-drug campaign back to their communities, particularly in rural areas, in line with Governor Umo Eno’s ARISE Agenda and its bottom-to-top approach to development. Dr. Ekanem further said the collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) would expose participants to the legal consequences of drug abuse, including possible imprisonment, while educating them on prevention, rehabilitation and the importance of living drug-free lives.