The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), at a joint press briefing held with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on 19 June 2023, restated its commitment to strengthening efforts in drug prevention, treatment, and control in Nigeria. UNODC Country Representative, Oliver Stolpe, emphasized the importance of international cooperation and addressing the challenges posed by drug trafficking networks.
In a press statement yesterday, Oliver Stolpe outlined the top priorities for UNODC in the coming year. These include:
1. Strengthening International Cooperation: UNODC aims to dismantle trafficking networks involved in the drug trade through enhanced international cooperation with justice systems worldwide.
2. Improving Drug Counseling and Treatment: UNODC will work towards training public and primary healthcare providers to effectively provide drug counseling and intervention. Efforts will focus on increasing the availability of treatment centers and preventing the spread of drug use disorders in Nigeria.
3. Conducting a Drug Use Survey: UNODC will collaborate with the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics to conduct a drug use survey, updating information on drug use and control in Nigeria.
4. School-Based Drug Prevention: UNODC seeks to equip Nigerian children with life skills and knowledge to resist drug use. Existing programs will be expanded to reach a larger number of children, with a special focus on secondary education.
5. World Drug Report: UNODC is eager to learn about the latest developments in the global drug situation. The report will provide insights into the surplus of cocaine production in Latin America, its potential influence on Africa, and issues related to drug use disorder.
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (Retd) also disclosed that the fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking has yielded significant results in the last 29 months with the arrest of 31.675 drug offenders; 5,147 of them prosecuted and convicted while over 6.3 million kilograms of assorted drugs were seized within the same period. According to him, ‘This year’s theme, “People First: Stop Stigma and Discrimination, Strengthen Prevention” is in furtherance of the whole-of-society approach to taming the drug scourge. This theme is especially pertinent to the Nigerian situation at the moment. In the past two and the half years, we have strengthened our law enforcement efforts to cut down on the supply of drugs in society.
While charging the society to drop the stigmatization that discourages drug users from seeking treatment, the NDLEA boss expressed appreciation for the partnership between NDLEA, NGOs, development partners, and the various groups, institutions, and relevant professionals in society, including media professionals, who have been very supportive of the renewed war on drugs.” He further thanked UNODC for its “unquantifiable support that has contributed to the rapid evolution of NDLEA” and added “we are thankful to the European Union (EU) and the governments of the United States, United Kingdom, France, India, Germany, who have all boosted our capacity to cope with the demands of our mandate.”
Oliver Stolpe expresses gratitude for the strong collaboration with NDLEA and other Nigerian partners, including NAFDAC, the Federal Ministries of Health and Education, Civil Society Organizations, and the private sector. As the drug epidemic continues to affect millions of people, he stressed the need for all partners to take a people-centered approach to drug policies, with a focus on human rights, compassion, and evidence-based practices. This year’s theme for the World Drug Day is therefore “People First: Stop Stigma and Discrimination, Strengthen Prevention”
