President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday called for an all-out campaign against drug abuse and illicit trafficking.
Tinubu said such a campaign should evolve into a national movement, emphasising that only a holistic and inclusive approach can successfully tackle the scourge.
“To effectively tackle this problem, our approach must be comprehensive,” Tinubu declared in a keynote address delivered on his behalf by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, at the grand finale of the 2025 World Drug Day commemoration at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.
“We must foster peace. We must promote inclusive development. And we must uphold human rights every step of the way,” he said, highlighting the need to address the root causes of drug abuse such as poverty, inequality, and conflict.
Tinubu argued that combating substance abuse and trafficking is not a task for the government alone but must be championed by families, civil society, youth groups, faith leaders, community organisations, businesses and individuals with lived experience.
“Their voices matter. Their stories inspire. Their leadership is essential,” the President said.
Tinubu noted, “Together, we can dismantle the systems that sustain this crisis. Together, we can build a future where prevention is strong, treatment is accessible, and recovery is not just possible—but celebrated.”
He connected this commitment to his administration’s broader Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to address socio-economic vulnerabilities.
“This has been the focus of our administration—breaking the burden of poverty, uplifting millions out of squalor, and caring for the youth through the student loan scheme and other empowerment initiatives,” he said.
Tinubu also commended the leadership of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and its chairman, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd.), for the agency’s globally recognised achievements in both drug supply and demand reduction.
“The NDLEA’s work has not only earned praise from international partners but has also drawn further support and collaboration in the global fight against substance abuse,” he noted.
In his welcome address, Marwa revealed Nigeria’s drug challenge, stressing that prevention must now be treated as a national emergency.
“With a population exceeding 230 million, it is both urgent and pragmatic to prevent new individuals from being drawn into the population of drug users,” he said.
According to Marwa, the NDLEA has adopted a two-pronged strategy: an aggressive crackdown on drug supply networks and a robust push for drug use prevention and rehabilitation.
“Over the past 53 months, we have arrested 66,085 drug offenders, including 94 identified drug barons. We’ve seized over 11.1 million kilograms of assorted drugs and secured the conviction of 12,201 individuals”, he announced.
