Ahmadu Bello Foundation calls for national emergency on drug abuse
The Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation (SABMF) has raised alarm over the rising rate of drug and substance abuse among Nigerian youth, describing the situation as a national emergency requiring
- By AbdulGafar Alabelewe, Kaduna
The Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation (SABMF) has raised alarm over the rising rate of drug and substance abuse among Nigerian youth, describing the situation as a national emergency requiring urgent and coordinated intervention.
The Foundation made its position known in a statement issued on Monday following its Monthly Virtual Mentorship Programme where stakeholders examined the socio-economic implications of substance abuse on society.
The statement signed by its Director-General, Abubakar Gambo Umar, drew heavily from a presentation delivered during the programme by Muhammad Kasim, a Resident Doctor in the Department of Community Medicine at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, which provided detailed data and contextual analysis on the growing crisis.
According to the presentation cited in the statement, Nigeria currently records a drug use prevalence rate of 14.4 per cent, representing about 14.3 million people, based on data from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
The Foundation noted that young people constitute a significant proportion of those affected, making the issue particularly urgent for national development and future stability.
It warned that the increasing availability and consumption of both conventional and synthetic substances pose serious threats to public health, economic productivity, and national security.
SABMF said the consequences of the trend include rising cases of addiction and mental health challenges, increased burden on healthcare systems, reduced workforce productivity, and a spike in crime rates.
The statement also highlighted the erosion of educational outcomes and weakening of family cohesion as part of the broader social impact of substance abuse.
Focusing on Northern Nigeria, the Foundation identified poverty, unemployment, low school enrolment, and the growing population of out-of-school children as key drivers of youth vulnerability to drug abuse.
It further observed that the emergence and normalization of dangerous synthetic and locally compounded substances are worsening the situation across communities.
To address the challenge, SABMF called for the strengthening of preventive education through the integration of drug awareness into school curricula and the expansion of community-based sensitisation campaigns.
The Foundation also advocated improved access to affordable rehabilitation services and the integration of mental health care into primary healthcare systems nationwide.
It urged government to strengthen the capacity of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, enhance coordination among security agencies, and address socio-economic drivers through youth empowerment, job creation, and data-driven policymaking.
