A new survey by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has revealed a troubling rise in drug abuse across Nigeria, estimating that about 14.3 million Nigerians consumed illicit drugs within a one-year period.
The report highlights an escalating public health crisis, with young people identified as the most affected demographic. The survey suggests that substance abuse is increasingly widespread across urban and rural communities, driven by factors such as unemployment, peer pressure, mental health challenges, and easy access to illegal substances.
According to findings attributed to the NDLEA, cannabis remains one of the most commonly abused substances, alongside misuse of pharmaceutical drugs and other psychoactive substances. Authorities warn that the trend poses serious risks not only to individual health but also to national security, as drug abuse is often linked to rising cases of crime, violence, and social instability.
The NDLEA has continued to intensify enforcement operations, arrests, and awareness campaigns aimed at reducing drug trafficking and consumption nationwide. Officials also emphasized the need for stronger community-based prevention programs, rehabilitation services, and youth-focused education initiatives.
In response to the findings, stakeholders are calling for coordinated action between government agencies, schools, families, and civil society to address what they describe as a growing epidemic affecting the future workforce of Nigeria.
The development adds renewed urgency to ongoing national efforts led by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency to combat drug abuse and curb the rising tide of substance dependence among Nigerian youths.
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