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Gbeminiyi Ogunleye
3 weeks ago
Overview
15 Million Nigerians On Drugs - NDLEA «
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has disclosed that no fewer than 15 million Nigerians are involved in drug use across the country.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.) made this known during a courtesy visit to Ondo State Governor Lucky at his office in Akure on Monday.
Marwa said findings from the 2018 United Nations drug use survey revealed that Nigerians within the 15 to 64 age bracket were involved in drug consumption, adding that one in every seven Nigerians in that category uses drugs.
He described the figure as “unacceptably high.”
The NDLEA boss, while presenting data on drug use prevalence, enforcement outcomes, and cannabis production nationwide, decried the level of drug abuse in Ondo state, putting the prevalence rate at 17 per cent, representing about 400,000 users.
Marwa compared the figure with Lagos state, which he said had a 33 percent prevalence rate, translating to about two million users, and Oyo state, with 24 percent.
According to him, the NDLEA command in Ondo state recorded 336 arrests, seized 22,316 kilograms of illicit drugs, and secured 62 convictions within the period under review.
He added that about 207,000 kilograms of cannabis were seized and destroyed from farms and plantations across the state.
Marwa also disclosed that the agency’s counselling and rehabilitation centre in Ondo treated 243 drug users last year, noting that the state remained the highest producer of cannabis in Nigeria due to its favourable climate and soil conditions.
