NDLEA boss cautions students on dangers of drug abuse
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Buba Marwa, has cautioned Nigerian students on the dangers of drug abuse, warning that the growing trend poses
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Buba Marwa, has cautioned Nigerian students on the dangers of drug abuse, warning that the growing trend poses a serious threat to their future and national development.
Marwa gave the warning on Tuesday while delivering a drug sensitisation lecture at the combined 29th and 30th convocation ceremony of Yakubu Gowon University (formerly University of Abuja) in Abuja.
Addressing the graduating students, he emphasised that drug abuse is increasingly prevalent among young people, particularly on university campuses, where many students turn to substances in response to academic pressure, social expectations, and emotional challenges.
Speaking on the theme, “High Today, Lost Tomorrow: The Real Cost of Drug Abuse on Campus,” Marwa said the dangers of drug use are often underestimated, with many students unaware of the long-term consequences of their actions.
According to him, what begins as curiosity, peer influence, or a coping mechanism can quickly develop into dependency, trapping students in cycles of addiction.
He identified commonly abused substances to include cannabis, codeine-based syrups, tramadol, and synthetic drugs.
Marwa cited findings from the 2018 National Drug Use and Health Survey, which put Nigeria’s drug use prevalence at 14.4 per cent—nearly three times the global average.
The NDLEA boss noted that recent enforcement data further underscored the severity of the problem.
He disclosed that more than 60 per cent of over 77,000 drug offenders arrested by the agency in the past five years were youths, some as young as 15, adding that most individuals currently undergoing treatment and counselling in NDLEA facilities are also young people.
The NDLEA boss attributed the trend partly to a culture that increasingly normalises drug use among youths, with many perceiving it as harmless or fashionable.
Marwa added that cannabis remains the most widely used substance, accounting for over 70 per cent of the 14.8 million kilogrammes of drugs seized by the agency between 2021 and 2025.
He warned that the consequences of drug abuse include poor academic performance, mental health disorders, broken relationships, and increased exposure to crime and violence.
“Students must understand that drug abuse comes with serious and lasting consequences. It is not a solution to stress or academic challenges,” he said.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Hakeem Fawehinmi, said the lecture was part of efforts to sensitise students to the dangers of drug abuse.
The vice-chancellor described the issue as a major societal concern and called for collective action to curb the growing menace among youths.
