Security
GOV. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has identified drug abuse and illicit trafficking as major drivers of insecurity in Nigeria, calling for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to curb the menace.
Sule made the call on Friday in Lafia at the grand finale of the 2026 United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
Represented by Retired CP Usman Isah- Baba, the state’s Commissioner for Security and Sundry Matters, the governor urged security agencies, traditional institutions, civil society organisations, families and communities to intensify efforts toward preventing drug abuse and dismantling trafficking networks.
He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to supporting the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to enhance its capacity to combat drug abuse and illicit trafficking across the state.
Earlier, Mr David Dechi, the Commander, NDLEA Nasarawa State Command, said this year’s theme, “The World Drug Problem: Persisting Issues, New Challenges, Innovative Responses,” with the slogan, “Break the Cycle; Stop Organised Crime,” highlighted the need for innovative and coordinated responses to emerging drug-related challenges.
Dechi said the command had recorded significant operational successes in the last one year, including the arrest of 589 suspects comprising 568 males and 21 females, and the seizure of 6,327.575 kilogrammes of illicit drugs and controlled substances.
He listed the seized exhibits to include 6,042.077 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa, cocaine, methamphetamine, pentazocine, pethidine, ketamine, fentanyl injections and other psychotropic substances.
According to him, the command also secured 103 convictions, filed 94 fresh cases in court, while 12 cases are still pending before competent courts.
The commander added that under its Drug Demand Reduction programme and the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, the command sensitised 123,493 persons through awareness programmes conducted in schools, communities, workplaces, motor parks and other public places.
He further disclosed that 20 clients received counselling and rehabilitation services, 177 persons underwent drug integrity tests, while 1,154 identified drug users received brief intervention counselling and were reunited with their families for continued support.
Dechi, however, identified inadequate operational vehicles, poor logistics, limited funding and insufficient public cooperation as major challenges confronting the command in its efforts to combat drug-related crimes.
He appealed to members of the public to volunteer credible information on drug-related activities and urged all stakeholders to sustain support for the agency in safeguarding communities.
Delivering a lecture on the theme of the event, Mr Ahmed Usman-Egye, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Public Administration and Deputy Dean, Students’ Affairs, Isa Mustapha Agwai Polytechnic, Lafia, stressed that tackling drug abuse required a multi-sectoral approach.
Usman-Egye advocated stronger collaboration among security agencies, adoption of community-based prevention programmes, improved family support systems, deployment of digital technologies, enhanced intelligence sharing and expanded rehabilitation services.
He noted that experiences from countries such as Canada, Portugal and Singapore showed that effective drug control required a balance of prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and law enforcement strategies tailored to national realities.
Also speaking, Mr Vincent Jonathan, a musician and former drug user, shared his experience to discourage young people from substance abuse, saying he struggled with addiction for 20 years after taking drugs as a university student before overcoming the habit.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event featured drama presentations by members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and goodwill messages from stakeholders in support of the campaign against drug abuse and illicit trafficking. (NAN)
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Tags: Gov. Sule insecurity