Nigeria, traditionally considered a key transit hub for drug trafficking, has gradually become a key producer, consumer, and distributor of illegal drugs. Different categories of drugs are produced, consumed and trafficked through the country. The types of drugs trafficked include cannabis, cocaine, heroin, and psychotropic substances including methamphetamine, tramadol, codeine, and diazepam. Cannabis is widely cultivated in different parts of the country and is used both for local consumption and export. Other drugs produced are methamphetamine and codeine containing cough syrups.
In 2019 the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) reported an almost 50 percent increase in seizure activity from the previous year. While the agency recorded a seizure of a total of 317,764.85kgs of illicit drugs in 2018, in 2019, the agency seized 612,903.48kgs of illicit drugs, representing an increase of 48.15%. On 4 August 2022, the NDLEA destroyed 560,068.31414 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs, reportedly the largest cache of seized, illicit drugs to be destroyed in a single ceremony in its the 32-year history. Moreover, at least 20 clandestine laboratories have been dismantled including two “super-labs”, capable of producing many tons of methamphetamine per week. In the same week in August 2022, NDLEA discovered 2 methamphetamine production labs in Lagos and Anambra respectively.
Our work
UNODC has been providing technical, research and normative support to Nigeria to strengthen its drug control efforts. From 2012 to 2022 UNODC, with the funding support of the European Union, implemented a dedicated project to support Nigeria’s drug control efforts, adopting a balanced approach with a focus on support to policy and legislation development, inter-agency coordination, data collection and trend analysis, drug law enforcement capacity building, drug demand reduction and access and control of narcotics and psychotropic substances. This project provided dedicated capacity building and operational support to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), which has the mandate to lead, coordinate and implement Nigeria’s drug control response.
UNODC supports Member States to improve their forensic science standards to combat drugs and crime, through its Laboratory and Scientific Services (LSS) which provides scientific and forensic services to almost 300 labs in 80 countries. This programme ensures worldwide availability and accessibility of internationally accepted standards for forensic best practices. It also improves national forensic capacity and capabilities to meet internationally accepted standards of performance and promotes the use of scientific and forensic data in strategic operations, policy and decision-making processes.
Our partners
Key partners for UNODC's work in this area include, among others, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and its parent Ministry, the Federal Ministry of Justice and various law enforcement agencies and civil society organizations.
Our projects
Our achievements
