The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) have called on President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency over the escalating hard drug crisis, especially among Nigerian children and youths.

 

Speaking at HURIWA’s 2025 National Human Rights Lecture in Abuja, themed “Keeping Nigerian Children Free from Hard Drugs: A Task for All,” NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (retd), represented by agency secretary Shadrach Haruna, warned that drug abuse is fueling violent crimes and insecurity nationwide. He noted that the NDLEA has implemented strategies beyond seizures and arrests, including public education and advocating mandatory drug tests for public office holders and intending couples.

 

HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, raised alarm over the high rate of addiction among young Nigerians, citing a UN report revealing that 14.4% of Nigerians aged 15 to 64 abuse drugs—nearly triple the global average. He warned that Nigeria is at risk of raising a “lost generation” if immediate action is not taken.

 

Onwubiko referenced studies showing high rates of psychiatric disorders among youths in correctional facilities and noted the alarming consumption of substances like codeine, particularly in northern states. He urged the president to empower the NDLEA with a stronger legal framework and increased resources to combat the threat more effectively.

 

Other speakers, including Prof. Sadiq Abba and Prof. Olurotimi Coker of LASUTH, emphasized the deepening mental health crisis and called for greater collaboration and funding to support the NDLEA’s efforts in protecting Nigeria’s future generations.