The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said enforcement alone cannot stop drug abuse, calling for greater involvement of young people in prevention efforts.
The agency’s chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), said this at the opening of the 12th National Youth Summit on Drug and Substance Abuse Prevention in Abuja.
Marwa, represented by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said the agency arrested traffickers, dismantled drug cartels and rehabilitated people struggling with addiction, but enforcement was not enough.
‘You cannot win a war against drugs without winning the hearts and minds of young people,’ he said.
He said young people should be involved in implementing the 2026-2030 National Drug Control Master Plan because they were exposed to the risks of substance abuse and could influence their peers.
Marwa urged youth leaders to educate themselves about drugs, take prevention messages to their schools and communities, and help people experiencing addiction access treatment.
He added that stigma could prevent people struggling with addiction from seeking help, stressing the need for treatment and support.
The summit, organised by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) in partnership with the African Youth Initiative on Crime Prevention, runs from October 27 to 29 under the theme, ‘Policy and Advocacy, Youth Voices in the 2026-2030 Master Plan.’
The Director-General of BPSR, Dasuki Arabi, represented by the Acting Director of Finance and Administration, Omene Gloria, said drug abuse affected public health, education, security, family stability, productivity and national development.
Arabi said addressing the problem required prevention, early intervention, treatment, rehabilitation and collaboration among government institutions, families, schools, healthcare providers and communities.
He added that young people should participate in developing drug prevention policies and that government programmes should produce measurable outcomes.
The Founder and Executive Director of the African Youth Initiative on Crime Prevention, Ambassador Chris Ibe, said many state governments lacked designated officers and programmes for drug demand reduction.
Ibe urged state governments to provide funding, coordination structures and sustained prevention programmes to complement the efforts of the NDLEA.