https://en.sputniknews.africa/20240629/working-together-to-ensure-this-scourge-is-curbed-nigerian-official-on-fight-against-drug-abuse-1067297895.html
'Working Together to Ensure This Scourge is Curbed': Nigerian Official on Fight Against Drug Abuse
'Working Together to Ensure This Scourge is Curbed': Nigerian Official on Fight Against Drug Abuse
Sputnik Africa
Established in 1989, Nigeria's National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is a federal law enforcement agency under the country's Federal Ministry of... 29.06.2024, Sputnik Africa
2024-06-29T18:57+0200
2024-06-29T18:57+0200
2024-07-01T17:31+0200
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According to Femi Babafemi, Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, the alarming findings of the 2018 National Drug Use Survey, which showed that about 14.3 million Nigerians abused illicit substances, prompted the government to intensify efforts to curb the problem.In an interview with Sputnik Africa, he elaborated on the importance of launching a whole-of-society approach in 2021 under the War Against Drug Abuse, a social advocacy initiative. The official added that new model rehab centers are being developed, noting that thanks to recent efforts, specialists have been able to help more than 33,000 people struggling with drug abuse.Femi Babafemi called for greater collaboration within Nigeria and beyond, citing the lack of funding as the "number one challenge" in the fight against drugs, although saying that "the current government in Nigeria has been doing its utmost to support the efforts of the agency.""What we do is holistic. We are involved with supply reduction; we're involved with demand reduction; I mean, we have a huge responsibility; and the huge responsibility such as that, again, demands and huge funding," he noted.
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africa insight, nigeria, drugs, law, medicine
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'Working Together to Ensure This Scourge is Curbed': Nigerian Official on Fight Against Drug Abuse
18:57 29.06.2024 (Updated: 17:31 01.07.2024) Established in 1989, Nigeria's National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is a federal law enforcement agency under the country's Federal Ministry of Justice. Its tasks include countering the production and proliferation of hard drugs.
According to
Femi Babafemi, Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, the alarming findings of the 2018 National Drug Use Survey, which showed that about 14.3 million Nigerians abused illicit
substances, prompted the government to intensify efforts to curb the problem.
In an interview with
Sputnik Africa, he elaborated on the importance of launching a whole-of-society approach in 2021 under the War Against Drug Abuse, a social advocacy initiative. The official added that new model rehab centers are being developed, noting that thanks to recent efforts, specialists have been able to help more than 33,000 people struggling with
drug abuse.
"Some people indeed are struggling with this problem, and they actually need treatment, but because of the fear of being judged and stigmatized, they cannot come out publicly to own up and seek help. So for this set of people, the agency has also gone ahead to set up a drug abuse call center, through which people can seek treatment right from the comfort of their homes," he explained.
Femi Babafemi called for greater collaboration within Nigeria and beyond, citing the lack of funding as the "number one challenge" in the fight against drugs, although saying that "the current government in Nigeria has been doing its utmost to support the efforts of the agency."
"What we do is holistic. We are involved with supply reduction; we're involved with demand reduction; I mean, we have a huge responsibility; and the huge responsibility such as that, again, demands and huge funding," he noted.
"Everyone needs to come to the table to support this effort. So indeed, and we are glad that we're getting this not only from stakeholders locally but as well from our international partners [...] from some of the big countries across the world," the official concluded.
