The Plateau State Government has unveiled a comprehensive plan to combat drug trafficking and substance abuse, with a renewed focus on disrupting illicit drug supply chains through stronger collaboration among government agencies, security institutions and community stakeholders.
The government said the initiative is aimed at reducing the growing incidence of illicit drug trafficking and abuse by prioritising prevention, strengthening law enforcement and promoting a coordinated response across the state.
The plan was unveiled during a one-day stakeholders’ engagement held in Jos on Monday by the Plateau State Government in collaboration with the CHARIS Healthcare and Community Support Initiative and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Speaking at the forum, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Ba’amlong, described drug abuse as a major public health challenge with serious social and economic consequences, noting that the rising number of drug-related illnesses was placing increasing pressure on families, communities and government institutions.
He said tackling the challenge required the active participation of community leaders, traditional rulers, security agencies, regulatory institutions, faith-based organisations and other relevant stakeholders.
“There is a need for all stakeholders to work together. Community leaders, traditional rulers, security agencies, regulatory institutions, faith-based organisations, and every relevant stakeholder must be actively involved if we are to effectively tackle this challenge,” Ba’amlong said.
The commissioner noted that Governor Caleb Mutfwang had consistently advocated proactive measures centred on prevention, community engagement and stronger institutional collaboration, stressing that preventing drug abuse should take precedence over rehabilitation.
“Prevention is better than cure. While rehabilitation has its place, our priority should be preventing young people from becoming victims of drug abuse in the first instance. We must address the root causes of the problem rather than focusing solely on rehabilitation,” he added.
Ba’amlong also expressed concern over the open sale and consumption of illicit substances in many communities, calling for stricter enforcement of existing laws and intensified surveillance by security agencies.
He urged law enforcement agencies, including the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigeria Police Force, to identify, arrest and prosecute individuals involved in the cultivation, production and distribution of cannabis and other illicit substances.
“For us in the health sector, our responsibility is to provide treatment when cases arise. However, law enforcement agencies such as the NDLEA, the Police, and other security agencies have a critical role in arresting and prosecuting those involved in the production and sale of illicit drugs,” he said.
Earlier, the Deputy Director of Pharmaceutical Services in the Plateau State Ministry of Health, Pharm. Philomena Achwai, welcomed participants and emphasised the importance of developing a coordinated multi-sectoral response to the challenge of illicit drugs.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of CHARIS Healthcare and Community Support Initiative, Hon. Praise Mwese, said the engagement was organised to support government efforts to address the rising incidence of illicit drug trafficking and substance abuse across the state.
She observed that the increasing availability of illicit drugs on the streets reflected an expanding supply chain that continued to expose young people to substance abuse, expressing optimism that the engagement would produce a comprehensive roadmap capable of significantly reducing the supply of illicit drugs while promoting alternative development strategies.
In a presentation, CHARIS Project Officer, Henry Ojenya, identified inadequate knowledge of the dangers of drug use, mental health challenges, family neglect, poverty, social exclusion and weak attachment to schools and communities as major factors contributing to substance abuse.
He said effective prevention should focus on promoting the healthy development of children and young people, increasing public awareness and creating supportive environments capable of reducing the risk of drug abuse.
The Assistant Director of NAFDAC’s North Central Zonal Office, Pharm. Damter John, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to eliminating illicit drugs from circulation, noting that the ban on sachet alcohol formed part of broader regulatory measures aimed at reducing substance abuse.
The Chief Superintendent of Narcotics, Chang Richard Gyang, disclosed that the NDLEA arrested 1,578 suspects in Plateau State last year. He added that the agency recovered 9.4 tonnes of various illicit drugs at Selbok in Langtang Local Government Area and destroyed more than seven tonnes of cannabis cultivated on farms in Samlek, Mangu Local Government Area during the same period.
The engagement featured presentations on research findings relating to illicit drug supply chains, interactive discussions and question-and-answer sessions.
It concluded with renewed commitments from stakeholders, including the NDLEA, NAFDAC, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), civil society organisations, traditional rulers, religious leaders and development partners, to strengthen collaboration in disrupting illicit drug supply chains and reducing substance abuse across Plateau State.