Step up Fight Against Drug Abuse with Stronger Measures, Obi Encourages FG

Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has encouraged the Federal Government to intensify its efforts against drug abuse by introducing tougher penalties for drug traffickers.

Obi made this call in a statement on X.com on Wednesday while commemorating the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

In his statement, Obi highlighted economic hardship and unemployment as significant factors contributing to drug addiction, especially among the youth.

His statement partly read, “For a predominantly youthful population like Nigeria, where poverty and unemployment are increasing, the incidence of drug abuse remains high. Economic hardship and other poor socio-economic factors have been identified as the leading causes of drug abuse among our youth.”

Citing reports by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, he emphasized the need for urgent action to prevent a potential rise in drug users in Nigeria.

He added, “A report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) indicates that Nigeria and some African countries could see a 40 percent rise in the population of drug users, particularly among the youth, if swift measures are not implemented.”

“The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) reports that approximately 14.3 million Nigerians aged 15-64 years abuse drugs.”