The recent revelation by the Chairman of NDLEA, Brigadier-General Buba Marwa (rtd) that close to 2 million Kano residents abuse tramadol, codeine, and other cough syrups is alarming and calls for concern by authorities responsible, writes Ugo Aliogo
The recent exposé by the National Law Drug Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Chairman, Brigadier-General Buba Marwa (rtd) that close to 2 million Kano residents abuse tramadol, codeine, and other cough syrups, is a stark reminder that federal, state governments and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have to develop new mechanisms and strategies to win the fight against drug abuse. The expectation is that in the fight against drug abuse, Nigeria should move from legislation to enforcement of policies and relevant laws in order to punish offenders and curb the practice. Like everything in Nigeria that ends at the doorpost of legislation and advocacy, substance use is not left out. It might not be fair to assert that the government is treating the issue with levity, judging with the numerous arrests and clamping down on culprits, which the NDLEA has been embarking on under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. However, the arguments from some quarters are that there is a need for all hands to be on deck in tackling this menace to the barest minimum, and advocacy should be strengthened across all levels of government.
To broaden the perspective of the discourse, THISDAY spoke to the Country Representative, United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC), Oliver Stolpe, who stated that the spread of the drug use epidemic in Nigeria is indeed a grave public health concern, noting that overall, they are counting that there are some 15 million drug users in the country.
He argued that their data concerning drug addiction as a medical condition requiring treatment and counselling is less robust, though they estimate that this applies to approximately 20 percent of the drug users.
He further explained that the agency has been working intensively in addressing the menace of drug abuse with the support of the European Union,
He avowed that they are also collaborating with the NDLEA, the Ministries of Health and Education, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, (NAFDAC), State Governments, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).
According to him, “In these past years, we have achieved a lot on all fronts. New important policy documents and strategies have been developed, operational capacities of NDLEA, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) as well as the courts have been upgraded to effectively intercept, investigate, prosecute and adjudicate drug trafficking. The health sector has developed standards and skillsets to provide much-needed treatment and counselling to persons grappling with drug use disorders, though access to these services remains a challenge. In cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Education and several State Commissioners of Education, we are rolling out UNPLUGGED, a school-based drug use prevention programme throughout the country.”
Corroborating the views of the UNODC Country Representative, was the Director-General, Christ Against Drug Abuse Ministry (CADAM), Dr. Dokun Adedeji, who affirmed that Gen. Marwa comments are consistent with survey findings of substance abuse in the country, noting that in 2019, the UNODC released the report of their 2018 project.
He espoused that the global prevalence rate is substance abuse among the 15-64 age-grade was 5.6%, while the national prevalence rate was 14.4% translating to a population of near 14 million Nigerians so affected, “this figure is almost triple of global prevalence rate.”
“The Kano youth figures fall into the national consideration. There might arise the temptation to think from the Marwa comments that this menace is probably highest in the north. No, not true because the available statistics do not support such an assertion,” he further said.
Also lending a voice to the discourse was the Director, Media, and Advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, who shared the view that it was the work of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and UNODC that provided the statistics on drug prevalence for Nigeria.
He said before the conduct of the National Drug Survey of 2018, Nigeria’s drugs statistics were mere conjectures, but the report of the UNODC-backed National Survey on drug use and health presented, “incontrovertible facts and figures that make it easier for us to speak accurately about drug use prevalence in Nigeria.”
“It is instructive to note that with correct statistics, it is easier to monitor trends and then come up with interventions that will curb the trend in the abuse and trafficking of illicit drugs. You will agree with me that in the past eight months, the Agency has been on top of the game. Please also note that Gen. Marwa didn’t say there are two million drug addicts in Kano, he only said the drug survey shows two million persons abused drugs in the state during the period covered by the survey,” Babafemi said.
Cutting Down the Numbers
In curbing the number of people involved in illicit drug use, the UNODC Country Representative standpoint is that drug prevention and access to drug treatment indeed have been at the forefront of their efforts in recent times.
He revealed that more than one thousand teachers across Nigeria have been trained in school-based prevention through improving students’ life skills, such as their ability to deal with stress, anxiety, peer pressures, enhancing their understanding of their own emotions, and to act rationally when coming into contact with drugs.
He disclosed that guidelines and quality standards for drug use treatment have been promulgated with the support of UNODC, stating that they would continue to provide training to drug treatment professionals, including through supporting the establishment of model treatment centers.
According to him, “Drug prevention, treatment, and care sensitization training has been rolled out to thousands of law enforcement officials, teachers, traditional and community leaders, social workers, health professionals and other persons who regularly interact with drug users. When in-person access to drug treatment and counselling became a challenge due to COVID-19 related school closures, government lockdowns, and other restrictions, we helped a group of Nigerian drug counsellors to organize themselves and launch DrugHelpNet providing drug counselling services over the phone. Drug use prevalence is on the rise and has become a formidable public health crisis, and if we fail to muster the necessary resources to address this challenge, we will probably see the number of drug users and people living with drug use disorders double if not triple by 2030.”
Adedeji remarked that it would be erroneous to assume that a single agency such as NDLEA or UNODC, can significantly arrest the increasing trend of substance abuse in Nigeria or any other nation.
The CADAM DG’s submission is that the fight against substance abuse can only be won if the responsibilities are shared and roles understood, and until each sector of the society, “appreciates the great danger we face and then pursue our roles, we deceive ourselves.”
Adedeji’s argument is that the UNODC does not have its primary role in fighting substance abuse per say, but as the menace contributes to global crime, they nevertheless assist agencies like NDLEA to win the war.
Babafemi revealed that there is an increase in the number of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) that have partnered with the NDLEA in the fight against abuse and trafficking of illicit drugs.
He added that UNODC has been and continues to be a strong technical partner of the agency, and has been instrumental to some of the policies and interventions that the NDLEA has been implementing.
In his remarks, Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Rafsanjani, said the partnership between the NDLEA, CSOs, and international actors such as UNODC is really helping.
He affirmed that while the UNODC has been providing technical support to the agency, CSOs have been at the forefront flagging issues that require urgent attention.
“If you look at the drug use in Nigeria report produced by the UNODC, you will observe that every region of the country is suffering from drug abuse with one in Every seven Nigerian using drugs. Looking at the rising unemployment rate which is at 33% and the unemployment for young people between the ages of 15-24 at 54%, one need not be told where the problem of drug use is coming from,” he added.
Illicit Drug Use
Stolpe maintained that drug use is prevalent across Nigeria with an average prevalence close to 15 per cent.
He revealed that the highest regional prevalence the agency has recorded in the Southwest zone is with more than 22% of the population between the ages of 15-64, who have used an illicit drug or engaged in the non-medical use of a pharmaceutical psychotropic substance during the preceding 12 months.
He disclosed that other hotspots include Gombe, Yobe, Adamawa, Bauchi and Kano, as well as Imo and Enugu, adding that the drivers of drug use are different just as the reasons for the decision to use drugs differ.
He identified rapid urbanization, important trading hubs, cross border locations as factors associated with comparatively easier access to drugs, while youthful curiosity as much as poverty, inequality, unemployment, hard physical labour, and individual disposition are drivers as well.
Babafemi said the National Drug Survey 2018 remains the agency’s reference point for drug use in the country, the finding of the research shows that the Southwest region at 22.4% has the highest prevalence, with the Oyo-Lagos axis contributing to the spike.
Measuring Progress
The UNODC chief is optimistic that progress is being, judging with the improvement that has been achieved in the past 10 years especially in creating the laws, policies, institutional capacities, and skillsets.
He expressed the view that if there is a commitment made to scale up those efforts to match the level of drug use prevalence, then government and state actors stand a better chance to start reducing drug use prevalence in the country.
He said it is critical that a distinction is created between the ‘war on drugs with a ‘war on drug users’ because there is a temptation.
“At UNODC and in line with relevant international standards we, therefore, prefer to promote the balanced approach which puts equal emphasis on drug control, prevention, and treatment, always with the consciousness that drug use is first and foremost a health condition and drug users and their families require our empathy, care, and support,” he added.
The NDLEA Director opined that in line with intensifying efforts the agency has arrested over 8,634 drug traffickers and five major drug barons controlling different cartels across Nigeria between January and August 2021, adding that they have filed over 5,000 drug cases in court with over 1,630 convictions and 3,232 pending cases in court.
He espoused that within the year under review, the agency has seized more than 2.7 million kilograms of assorted illicit drugs, with cash and drug seizures valued at over N100 billion.
“We have balanced our drug supply reduction effort with a corresponding effort at drug demand reduction with over 4,269 drug abusers counselled and rehabilitated at NDLEA facilities,” he noted.
Achieving a Drug-Free Society
The UNODC boss is optimistic that a lot of progress has been achieved especially with the new National Drug Control Master Plan (2021-2025) which he said is a well thought-through, evidence-based roadmap.
In his words, “Providing the necessary resources to effectively implement this roadmap will be critical and key to reducing drug use prevalence. However, we need to remain realistic. The goal, for now, should be to reverse this trend of increasing drug use, then to achieve a consistent reduction and in the long run to create a system where we control the public health challenges, such that are able to reduce the inflow as well as the production of illicit drugs in the country; prevent, reduce and delay drug use in particular among our youth; and provide access to treatment and counselling to everyone in need.”
Babafemi expressed confidence that NDLEA would continue to discharge its duty and be alive to its various responsibilities to ensure that there is a drug-free society.
He stated that the drive to achieve a drug-free society would be easier when members of the society as well take it up as a responsibility to ensure that the younger ones are prevented from experimenting with illicit drugs.
Babafemi said: “Having a drug-free society is not so much about legislation as it is about the implementation of the law; so far, we have achieved record convictions in eight months. The NDLEA Act is explicit in the penalties prescribed for various drug-related offences. However, the Agency is pushing for the maximum penalty for offenders so that there will be a strong deterrence for anybody toying with the idea of getting involved in the trade and trafficking of drugs. And there is a bill to that effect already in the National Assembly.”
Adedeji also said: “We need to be more careful in the use of legislation. I am more of the opinion that legislation should be employed to give a legal framework to activities required to work in this space.
“We have seen that resorting to banning these drugs and substances is a lazy mentality. We do not do enough background work to have a view of how all these activities relating to substance abuse interplay, we just apply the stick knowing that we cannot effect the application of these laws.
“Today, tramadol and codeine are still very available to those who know where to get them and at more expensive prices. Finally, I am fully persuaded by what I have seen with the Gen Marwa approach and intentions that we seem to be going beyond mere talks now and are ready to confront this menace.
“The most important things now are how to galvanize our awareness levels and get everyone mobilised to partake of this necessary war lest we lose our youths and future generations to this epidemic.”
