The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (retd), has revealed that Nigeria holds the top position as the country with the highest cannabis consumption globally, with 10.6 million individuals abusing the drug.
Speaking at the 2nd edition of Vanguard Mental Health Summit on Thursday, November 24, Marwa emphasized that Nigeria is facing a severe drug abuse problem, a situation that was not fully realized until the 2018 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC-supported National Survey on Drug Use and Health was conducted.
“Before then, the drug use profile of Nigeria was unknown. The survey provided us with concrete facts for the first time, revealing that Nigeria, as of 2018, had a 14.4 percent drug use prevalence.
“This was an eye-opener. The statistics, when compared to the global average drug use prevalence of 5.5 percent, showed that Nigeria’s prevalence was almost three times higher. This clearly indicates a serious substance abuse problem in the country.
“Another significant revelation from the survey was that 10.6 million Nigerians were abusing cannabis. This figure is alarming when we consider its human impact, with a cannabis-using population larger than countries like Portugal and the United Arab Emirates,” Marwa explained.
Marwa, represented by Zonal Commander, NDLEA, Lagos, Dr. Segun Oke, highlighted the agency’s efforts in combating drug abuse, stating, “In 22 months, the agency has apprehended 20,000 offenders and secured the conviction of 3,111 individuals in court. We have also seized 5.5 million kg of illicit drugs, destroyed 900 hectares of cannabis farms, and dismantled two illicit methamphetamine laboratories.”
“Additionally, we are working to counter the misleading messages that deceive young people into believing that illicit substances are harmless,” he added.
