Federal Government warns drug abuse threatens Nigeria's national development

George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, represented by Ibrahim Kana, Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, delivered this warning at the National Drug Use Summit in Abuja. The summit, themed "Addressing Illicit Drug Use and Trafficking: A Call to National Action," highlighted that drug use and trafficking have become significant global threats to public health, national security, social cohesion, and economic development, with Nigeria experiencing rising cases of mental illness, broken families, interrupted education, unemployment, and crime. Akume identified young Nigerians as particularly vulnerable, stating that their exposure to addiction directly threatens the country's future.

He also noted the growing links between drug trafficking and other organized crimes like violent extremism, banditry, kidnapping, and money laundering. Akume stressed that substance use disorders are complex health and social challenges requiring a "whole-of-government approach, a whole-of-society approach," involving families, communities, schools, healthcare providers, security agencies, the private sector, faith-based organizations, and civil society. He called for enhanced intelligence sharing, inter-agency collaboration, improved research, and resilient communities.

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