He made the call in his keynote address at the Island Club Business Forum in Lagos.
Marwa painted a grim picture of the country’s drug abuse landscape, disclosing that 14.3 million Nigerians, aged 15-64, are trapped in substance abuse, with the South West geopolitical zone recording the highest prevalence rate at 22.4 per cent.
He attributed the scourge to factors such as poverty, hunger, peer pressure, social media, and availability of substances.
“Drug abuse is everywhere. It’s a critical social and public health issue. The solutions actually lie within, and are tied to the causes. If you’re able to remove or deal with the causes, it means the drug abuse will be overcome,” he said.
Marwa also highlighted the emergence of new psychoactive substances, online access to drugs, and unregulated drug markets as significant challenges.
He appealed to stakeholders, including the club, to support the fight against drug abuse, by building rehabilitation centres, and promoting education and awareness.
Other guests, who spoke on the menace include Prof. Harry Ladapo, a consultant psychiatrist, and Prof. Lere Baale, President, Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy.
In his welcome remarks, Chairman of Island Club, Omoba Rotimi Martins, acknowledged Marwa’s “unwavering commitment to combating drug abuse,” adding that his wealth of experience in tackling the scourge “inspires us all.”
