State governments in Nigeria have been urged to adopt and promote community-based interventions to reduce the impact of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking at the grassroots level, in line with the National Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP).

This call was made during a training workshop organised by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for the Nigeria Governors Spouses’ Forum (NGSF) in Abuja yesterday.

The workshop was attended by notable figures such as the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd); Country Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Cheikh Ousmane Toure; as well as the representative of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Dr Daniel Amankwaah.

In her keynote address, Senator Tinubu, represented by the wife of the Deputy Senate President, Hajiya Laila Jibrin Barau, commended the NDLEA and NGSF for their efforts in advancing drug control initiatives at the grassroots level.

She also praised Marwa and his team for their dedication to combating illicit drug abuse and trafficking in the country.

Tinubu emphasised the need for a comprehensive approach that integrates enforcement, family support, and intervention to address the growing crisis of drug abuse among adolescents.

In his speech, Marwa highlighted the detrimental effects of the drug scourge on the country and stressed the importance of adopting urgent and inclusive strategies to combat it. He reported the significant progress made by the NDLEA in arrests, drug seizures, and providing treatment to drug users.

Marwa called on stakeholders to collaborate in developing solutions to address the real human toll of drug abuse.

The workshop also featured discussions by experts such as Dr Martins Agwogie, Prof Akintunde Oyedokun, Dr Akanidomo Ibanga, Dr Kunle Adeshina, Dr Abubakar Salami, and Dr Ngozi Madubuike.

Toure emphasised the need for states to prioritise prevention and treatment efforts, while Amankwaah urged state governments to invest in community-level interventions.

Overall, the training workshop aimed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills needed to address the complex issues of drug abuse at the community level. It emphasised the importance of collaboration among stakeholders to create lasting solutions that will protect families and communities from the harmful effects of drug abuse.