NDLEA: Nearly Half of Nigerian Undergraduates Abusing Drugs, Says Oyo Commander
The Oyo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has raised the alarm over the growing rate of drug abuse among Nigerian youth, disclosing that nearly 50% of undergraduates are involved in substance use.
The alarming revelation was made by the state NDLEA Commander, Olayinka Joe-Fadile, during a sensitisation rally held in Ibadan on Wednesday as part of activities marking the 2025 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
Joe-Fadile noted that the rate of drug abuse among young Nigerians, especially students, has become increasingly disturbing, with emerging data showing a downward shift in the age bracket of first-time drug users.
According to him, children as young as nine years old are now being exposed to and consuming illicit substances.
“Statistics are showing us that about four to five out of every 10 undergraduates are into drugs,” he stated. “This underscores the urgency for intervention. We are scaling up our outreach and sensitisation efforts, targeting not only tertiary institutions but also primary and secondary schools.”
The commander stressed that the 2025 campaign, themed “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention, Break the Circle”, reflects a call to action for all stakeholders from parents and educators to policy makers to collaborate in tackling drug abuse through preventive strategies rather than reactionary measures.
He added that achieving a drug-free society would require more than arrests and crackdowns; it necessitates investment in education, social systems, mental health care, and youth empowerment programmes.
World Drug Day, celebrated globally every June 26, serves as a platform to promote coordinated responses to drug challenges and raise awareness about the impact of drug abuse and illicit trafficking on individuals and communities.
