The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a total of 8,293 individuals for drug-related offences across Nigeria between January and May 2025, as part of intensified efforts to curb the menace of substance abuse in the country.
According to a report obtained on Tuesday, the arrested suspects comprise 7,439 males and 854 females.
Within the same period, the agency confiscated 1,184,376.54 kilograms of various illicit drugs, including cannabis, tramadol, and codeine-based cough syrups — with codeine syrup alone accounting for over 51,000kg seized in January.
April and May witnessed significant spikes in drug seizures, with 441,054.21kg and 385,525.69kg of narcotics intercepted, respectively.
The NDLEA also reported the destruction of cannabis farms estimated to yield 672,311.68kg.
Legal proceedings followed swiftly, with the agency filing 1,272 drug-related cases in court and securing 1,629 convictions during the five-month period. Of those convicted, 100 were women.
Speaking during a recent public lecture of the Board of Fellows of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, NDLEA Chairman Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd.) stressed the societal toll of drug abuse. “Behind every drug user is a family in distress,” he said, calling for multi-stakeholder collaboration to address the crisis.
He further applauded pharmacists for their ongoing contributions to public health and the fight against drug misuse.
“Pharmacists are strategic partners in drug control. Their efforts through the Pharmacists Council Bill Act 2023 are commendable,” he noted.
On the rehabilitation front, the NDLEA offered counselling to 3,762 individuals—mostly men—and enrolled 584 persons into rehabilitation programmes.
Additionally, the agency reached over 759,000 Nigerians through drug prevention awareness campaigns conducted in schools, religious centres, markets, and motor parks.
Gen. Marwa underscored the importance of mental health in national development, urging continuous reforms in the retail drug sector and the curbing of illegal pharmaceutical sales.
“The fight against drug abuse requires a holistic approach. We must strengthen enforcement, expand rehabilitation services, and educate our communities,” Marwa concluded.