Drug Abuse: Tinubu, Marwa Task States On Grassroots Interventions

The first lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) chairman, Brig Gen Mohamed Marwa, and other stakeholders have called for community-based interventions to tackle the challenges of drug abuse across the country.

They said proper applications of community intervention would curb the impact of the scourge of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking at the grassroots in line with the National Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP).

They stated this at a training workshop organised by NDLEA for the Nigeria Governors’ Spouses’ Forum (NGSF) in Abuja yesterday.

Speaking at the event, Senator Tinubu, who was represented by the wife of the deputy senate president, Hajiya Laila Jibrin Barau, commended the NDLEA and NGSF for the initiative aimed at advancing drug control efforts to the grassroots across the country.

According to her, “This training cannot come at any better time than now, when statistics and daily life experiences are revealing that drugs have infiltrated every nook and cranny of our communities. As a nation, we are confronted with a growing crisis that affects the very core of our society, the health, safety, and future of our children. The rising tide of drug and substance abuse amongst adolescents is a challenge that we must no longer ignore or tackle in isolation. It requires concerted efforts, a community-driven response, one that integrates enforcement, education, family support, and sustained intervention. Our presence at this training testifies to the collective resolve we display to strengthen, secure, and safeguard families and communities.

“Today’s training will ensure that we are adequately armed with the right knowledge, tools, skills, and competencies necessary to effectively tackle this complex issue. It is my hope that this capacity-building workshop, through honest discussions and sharing of best practices, will provide valuable insights into evidence-based strategies for prevention, early intervention, and holistic treatment approaches, especially targeting marginalised and vulnerable communities.”

While speaking, the NDLEA chairman said that the drug scourge obstructs progress and dims prospects in an already beleaguered world.

He said, “Regrettably, Nigeria is not immune to this scourge, which steadily infiltrates every stratum of our society. Statistics, academic research, and lived experiences alike reveal a grim reality about illicit drug use and consequences in the country. The magnitude and impact of the drug crisis render the attainment of our national aspiration—improving the health and security of all who dwell within our borders, as enshrined in the National Drug Control Master Plan 2021–2025—a daunting yet inevitable task for any government and people worthy of the name.”

Also, speaking at the workshop, UNODC Country Rep Cheikh Ousmane Toure said, “If the root of this crisis lies in our neighbourhoods, schools, and homes, then the solution must, too. The National Drug Control Master Plan and the WADA initiative remind us that the national framework alone cannot heal fractured communities. Lasting change begins when states and local governments own this fight.”