The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has expressed deep concern over the increasing rate of cannabis use in Nigeria, disclosing that about 10.6 million individuals are currently consuming the substance across the country.
The anti-drug agency cautioned that the surge in cannabis consumption presents serious public health and security risks, emphasising that immediate and collective action is required to address the growing menace.
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Mohammed Buba Marwa, made this known yesterday during the Drug Awareness and Sensitisation Lecture held as part of the combined 29th and 30th convocation ceremony of Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja.
Speaking on the topic, “High Today, Low Tomorrow: The Real Cost of Drug Abuse on Campus”, the guest lecturer cautioned Nigerian students against engaging in drug abuse, warning that a temporary high could ultimately ruin their future.
He praised the graduating students for successfully completing their academic programmes, stating that a convocation ceremony serves not only as a celebration of hard work and success but also as an opportunity to carefully consider future choices and life directions.
The NDLEA chief further referenced findings from the 2018 National Drug Use and Health Survey, which indicated that Nigeria recorded a drug use prevalence rate of 14.4 per cent, nearly three times higher than the global average.
He explained that the drug environment has evolved from conventional substances like cannabis to a more complex mix of synthetic opioids and designer drugs such as Colorado, Loud, and Methamphetamine, while raising concerns over the use of social media platforms for drug distribution and the involvement of students in trafficking.
According to him, there is a correlation between constructed-reality about getting intoxicated and the actual abuse of substances by young people, saying the National Drug Use and Health Survey report of 2018 was an open aperture on the use of psychoactive substances for non-medical purposes by Nigerians between the ages of 15 and 64.
Marwa concluded by applauding the management of the University of Abuja for its collaboration with NDLEA in enhancing campus monitoring and urged all tertiary institutions to strengthen drug awareness efforts during orientation programmes and classroom engagements.
