FG to lead national substance use survey as Shettima backs UNODC–MTN partnership
…project Management Office to coordinate nationwide implementation Vice President Kashim Shettima on Wednesday pledged the Federal Government’s full support for the National Substance Use Survey, describing the initiative as critical
...project Management Office to coordinate nationwide implementation
Vice President Kashim Shettima on Wednesday pledged the Federal Government’s full support for the National Substance Use Survey, describing the initiative as critical to safeguarding the future of Nigeria’s youth population.
Shettima made the commitment at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, during the signing of a letter of acceptance for cooperation between the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the MTN Nigeria Foundation on the nationwide survey.
He emphasised that the Federal Government would take ownership and leadership of the initiative, noting that its outcomes are vital to Nigeria’s long-term stability.
According to a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima said “we expect the findings to land as policy inputs, not as documents and we expect a full and final report no later than the first quarter of next year”.
The Vice President stressed that the Office of the Vice President would play an active, results-driven role in the project.
READ ALSO: I’d rather be single than settle for bare minimum – Diiadem
“I want to be clear that the Office of the Vice President’s role is not ceremonial. We are in this for the outcome because the survey report will provide relevant authorities with granular local government data required to design and implement critical interventions,” he said.
To ensure effective coordination, Shettima disclosed that a Project Management Office (PMO) would be established within his office.
“We are establishing a Project Management Office (PMO) within this office. The PMO will coordinate government’s participation across all stages: questionnaire design, field oversight, inter-agency engagement, and the launch and utilization of the final report,” he added.
He commended the contributions of partners involved in the initiative, describing the collaboration as a model of private sector engagement capable of driving national development.
Earlier, Executive Director of the MTN Nigeria Foundation, Mrs Odunayo Sanya, said the initiative is designed to deepen collaboration between the foundation and the Federal Government in advancing national development goals and protecting the country’s youth.
She explained that the survey would be conducted across local government areas nationwide, adding that it would be comprehensive and aligned with similar interventions already being supported by the foundation.
Also speaking, the Country Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Cheikh Ousmane Toure, described the partnership as a strong signal of Nigeria’s determination under President Bola Tinubu to tackle drug abuse and related crimes.
He noted that the UN agency was motivated to deploy its technical expertise due to the quality of leadership demonstrated by Nigeria.
According to him, the collaboration marks the beginning of a more strategic engagement involving the Federal Government, the private sector and the United Nations system.
Dignitaries at the event included the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, and a non-executive director of the MTN Nigeria Foundation Board, Mr Simon Aranonu, among others.
