Drug abuse among young people poses one of the gravest threats to the nation’s future, as Nigeria’s anti-narcotics agency calls for urgent collective action to address the crisis.
Brigadier-General Buba Marwa (rtd), Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), issued the warning on Tuesday in Abuja while delivering the keynote address at the “Kick Out Drug Abuse” (KODA) campaign — a football-themed anti-drug program organized by Richy Gold International Ltd in collaboration with NDLEA.
Marwa praised the organizers for creatively using football — the country’s most popular sport — to engage youths and inspire them to embrace discipline, teamwork, and resilience.
“Football teaches focus and commitment. Just as a single reckless foul can cost a team a match, one poor choice to experiment with drugs can destroy dreams, ruin careers and even cut short lives,” Marwa said.
He listed commonly abused substances including tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, tramadol, codeine mixtures, cocaine and methamphetamine, warning that their misuse was rampant in schools, communities, and even sporting circles.
“These substances rob young people of their health, potentials and future,” he said. “The devastating consequences are broken homes, wasted talents, rising crime rates, violence and shattered communities.”
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Marwa stressed that prevention remained Nigeria’s strongest defense against drug abuse and said NDLEA was ramping up initiatives focused on awareness, counselling, and rehabilitation. He noted that the agency was deepening collaborations with schools, sports bodies, religious institutions and community leaders to keep drugs off the streets.
However, he cautioned that the fight could not be won by the agency alone. “We enjoin every young person to be a champion in your own corner — rejecting drugs and influencing your peers positively,” he said.
The NDLEA chief urged youths to draw inspiration from professional footballers who sustain peak performance through drug-free lifestyles, adding that no player who abuses drugs can remain competitive.
Jude Onwusonye, Managing Director of Richy Gold International Ltd, said the KODA campaign was a “clarion call” to safeguard Nigeria’s future by mobilizing communities against drug abuse. “We don’t just make pharmaceutical products; we build healthier communities and fuel dreams,” he said.
Both NDLEA and KODA organizers expressed hope that combining sports and education would help steer Nigerian youths away from addiction and towards productive, meaningful lives.