The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has raised concern over the prevalence of drug abuse in Edo State, putting the rate at 15 per cent and identifying the state as a major hub for the cultivation, consumption and transit of illicit substances.
Mohamed Buba Marwa, chairman and chief executive officer of the NDLEA, disclosed this at a stakeholders’ meeting in Benin City, themed “Addressing the Drug Problems in Edo State”.
Marwa, a retired brigadier-general, said the prevalence rate covered people aged between 15 and 64, noting that Lagos and Kano states recorded rates of 33 percent and 16 percent, respectively.
The NDLEA boss who described the figures as unacceptable said tackling drug abuse and illicit trafficking required coordinated action by government institutions, security agencies, families, schools, communities and the media.
“We cannot do it alone. It is a whole-of-society approach. All stakeholders must join hands, flex muscles, work together, collaborate and defeat this criminality,” he said.
Marwa urged parents and guardians to pay closer attention to changes in their children’s behaviour and seek early intervention where signs of substance abuse were noticed.
He also advocated the establishment of drug-free clubs and counselling units in schools, while urging the media to discourage the glorification of drug use by entertainers and other public figures.
The NDLEA chairman further renewed his call for compulsory drug tests for intending couples, describing substance abuse as a fundamental social problem requiring urgent attention.
He said the drug problem cut across geographical, religious, ethnic and gender boundaries.
Earlier, Mitchell Ofoyeju, Edo State commander of the NDLEA, said the stakeholders’ engagement provided an opportunity to assess existing interventions, identify gaps and strengthen collaboration in addressing drug abuse and illicit trafficking.
He said the meeting would support the development of a sustainable roadmap towards a drug-free Edo State through improved intelligence gathering, community engagement, prevention, enforcement and rehabilitation.
Ofoyeju urged participants to contribute ideas and strategies that would strengthen the agency’s operations and public awareness efforts, stressing that the future of communities and the country depended on actions taken to address drug abuse.
In his goodwill message, Ahmed Balogun, commander of the 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Benin City, said the military maintained a strong working relationship with the NDLEA in Edo State.
He said the level of cooperation between both agencies was evident during joint operations, where personnel worked closely in tackling drug-related offences.
On her part, Edesili Okpebholo-Anani, coordinator of the Office of the Wife of the Edo State Governor and chairperson of the State Drug Control Committee, described drug abuse as a growing threat to families and communities.
She said the consequences extended beyond health challenges to include financial hardship for families struggling to rehabilitate relatives affected by substance abuse.
Okpebholo-Anani commended the NDLEA’s alternative development initiative, which encourages cannabis farmers to adopt legitimate livelihoods, describing it as an approach to addressing the economic incentives behind illegal cultivation.
She said Edo State was interested in replicating the pilot initiative and had received a positive response from the agency.
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