The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Oyo State Command, has raised alarm over the rising rate of drug abuse among Nigerian youths, revealing that four to five out of every ten undergraduates are involved in drug use.
This revelation was made on Wednesday in Ibadan by the state Commander, Olayinka Joe-Fadile, during a rally held to mark the 2025 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, observed annually on June 26.
This year’s event, themed “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention, Break the Circle,” aims to promote global collaboration in the fight against drug abuse and trafficking by focusing on prevention and strengthening institutions.
Joe-Fadile expressed deep concern over the increasing involvement of young people in drug-related activities, noting that children as young as nine years old are now being exposed to substance abuse.
“We are intensifying campaigns in primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions because the age demographic of drug users continues to decline,” he stated.
According to him, the growing crisis calls for a more coordinated, long-term approach involving investment in prevention, and the strengthening of health, education, and social support systems to disrupt the cycle of drug abuse and organized crime.
Joe-Fadile disclosed that the command had, in recent months, arrested 150 individuals for drug offences and destroyed approximately 11 tons of confiscated illicit substances.
He warned of the severe health consequences of drug use, including irreversible damage to internal organs, which could lead to slow and agonizing deaths. He also issued a strong warning to drug producers and dealers in Oyo State, assuring that the agency is ready to prosecute offenders to the fullest extent of the law.
“Every day is for the thief, but one day is for the owner. NDLEA will soon be at the doors of drug peddlers,” he declared.
In a bid to expand its outreach, Joe-Fadile revealed that many traditional rulers in the state have been appointed as NDLEA ambassadors, while the agency is also partnering with religious leaders to use their platforms to promote anti-drug campaigns.
The rally saw participation from several government agencies including the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, and the National Youth Service Corps, among others.
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