The Federal Government, yesterday, reaffirmed its commitment to preventing illicit drug use, dismantling trafficking networks, expanding access to treatment and rehabilitation, and promoting the wellbeing of Nigerians.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, gave the assurance at the opening of the National Drug Use Summit in Abuja.

The summit, themed “Addressing Illicit Drug Use and Trafficking: A Call to National Action,” was organised by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, Dr Adamu Ibrahim Kana, Akume said the administration of President Bola Tinubu remains unwavering in its commitment to tackling substance abuse and organised drug trafficking.

“No nation can achieve sustainable development when its youth are threatened by drug abuse and addiction, nor attain lasting peace and prosperity while criminal networks continue to undermine its institutions,” he said. He added that the summit provided an opportunity to strengthen partnerships and chart a coordinated path towards a healthier, safer and more resilient Nigeria under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (retd), described the summit as a national platform for reflection, dialogue and collective action against the growing burden of drug use and substance use disorders.

According to him, the scale of the challenge demands a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach involving government agencies, communities, families, religious and traditional leaders, civil society, development partners, the private sector and the media.

Marwa said the summit would help build consensus around a coordinated National Action Plan to strengthen prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, policy implementation, data collection and community resilience.

Highlighting the agency’s achievements over the past 18 months, he disclosed that the NDLEA arrested 29,262 suspects, seized 5,305,484.88 kilogrammes of illicit drugs valued at over N1.5 trillion, and secured 5,225 convictions.

He added that through the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, the agency conducted 6,645 awareness programmes across schools, worship centres, workplaces, markets, motor parks, communities and correctional facilities, reaching nearly five million Nigerians.

During the same period, 13,508 drug users received counselling, treatment and rehabilitation across the agency’s 31 rehabilitation centres nationwide.

Marwa also highlighted the launch of the Alternative Development Initiative for cannabis growers, designed to help them transition from illicit cultivation to legitimate cash crop production and other sustainable livelihoods.