International Youths Day: Drugs, Data and Concerns
As Nigeria joined the world to mark International Youth Day 2025, the Ogun State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Tijjani Rabe, has raised the alarm over what he described as a “gigantic albatross” to youth development — drug abuse.
Speaking at an event themed “Youth Empowerment for a Sustainable Future”, Rabe revealed that Nigeria’s drug use prevalence stands at 14.4 percent, nearly three times the global average of 5.6 percent.
Citing the 2018 National Drug Use Survey, he disclosed that about 14.3 million Nigerians between the ages of 15 and 64 have abused illicit drugs, with cannabis being the most common.
According to the report, one in every four drug users is female, while most cannabis users start experimenting between ages 17 and 19. The South West region tops the chart for prevalence, with more than four million people engaged in drug abuse. Alarmingly, one in every five users suffers from drug use disorder.
“The devastating effects of drug abuse go beyond the individual,” Rabe said. “It precipitates crimes, fuels aggression, reduces productivity, and threatens the social and economic stability of the nation. Our rehabilitation centres are filled with shattered dreams of once-promising lives.”
Rabe identified peer pressure, academic and career stress, digital exposure that glamorises substance use, and underlying mental health conditions as major drivers of the problem.
The NDLEA, he explained, is tackling the crisis through a two-pronged approach: supply reduction — involving arrests, seizures, and prosecution — and demand reduction through education, awareness campaigns, community engagement, and counselling.
In 2024 alone, the Ogun State Command seized 12 tonnes of cannabis, arrested 687 suspects, counselled 406 drug users, and secured 221 convictions. From January to June 2025, the command arrested 395 suspects, counselled 186 individuals, and seized eight tonnes of cannabis.
Calling for a united front, Rabe urged parents, religious institutions, traditional rulers, educational authorities, and community leaders to “rise to the occasion with one voice” against drug abuse and trafficking.
“As we celebrate Youth Day, let us empower our youth with the knowledge, skills, and support needed to resist the temptation of substance abuse,” he said. “By working together, we can create a safer, healthier, and more prosperous future for all.”
