14 million Nigerians on drugs, says NDLEA

Strategic Commander, National Drug Enforcement Agency, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos Command, Usman Wadar, says no fewer than 14m Nigerians out of the estimated 223m have either tasted or are hooked on drugs.

The NDLEA boss made this assertion while playing host to the Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc on Tuesday at the Lagos Airport, a visit that saw the donation of several medical facilities to the airport Command of the NDLEA as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility.

Some of the medical facilities donated by SAHCO included an incubator, centrifuge machine, sphygmomanometer, weighing scale, poison box, lipid profile meter, staining rack, and ambu bags.

Speaking at the event, Wadar said the 14m figure was provided by the United Nations Drug Survey in its 2018 statistics. He emphasised that the menace was a global and societal challenge but explained that the recent statistics from Nigeria indicated that the illegal use of drugs was declining in the country.

According to him, in 2022, the command seized about 21 tonnes of illicit drugs; 2023 was 23 tonnes, but it dropped drastically to just seven tonnes in 2024.

He attributed this success to the steps taken by the NDLEA to curb the growing menace in Nigerian society.

He said, “The drug problem is a global and societal one. If you go by the 2018 United Nations Drug Survey, more than 14m Nigerians have either tasted drugs or are hooked on drugs. That is a very staggering figure. It shows that all hands must be on deck so that we can curb this menace in our society.

“If you look at what we did in 2022, about 21 tonnes of assorted drugs were seized in this particular command. In 2023, it was 23 tonnes, but by 2024, it has drastically gone down to about seven tonnes. You can see a decline in that. That means our effort is paying off.”

Wadar also expressed delight at the donation by SAHCO, saying the items would go a long way in improving its performance and enhancing its relevance.

Earlier, Executive Director, Cargo Services, SAHCO, Mrs. Boma Ukwunna, who represented Mrs. Adenike Aboderin, Managing Director, SAHCO, at the event, said that the donation was part of the company’s CSR to the industry.

Ukwunna, who regretted the adverse effects of drug abuse in society, commended NDLEA for putting in place effective measures to checkmate the influx and outflow of drugs in the country, adding that the agency’s efforts had reduced the menace of drug trafficking in society.

She said the items donated would aid the Command in attending to suspects quickly, its staff, and other stakeholders in the industry.

She said, “In Nigeria and the world over, we know the menace of drugs and how we have had to contend with it, the impact on society, especially on the Nigerian youths.

“I want to commend the Commander for what he and his team have put in place to curb the menace at our airports and the country at large.

She added, “The Managing Director of SAHCO, as a mother and a citizen of Nigeria, is ready to support the NDLEA to discharge its duties diligently. As a company, we are completely beside and behind NDLEA to ensure that it implements its vision for the country.

“Whatever we have is just a token; it can never be enough looking at the volume of work that you do, but we are starting from somewhere with this token.”