By Khadija Kubau
The Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation (SABMF), under the leadership of its Director-General, Engr. Abubakar Gambo Umar, has sounded a strong warning over the escalating rate of drug and substance abuse among Nigerian youth, describing the situation as a “national emergency” requiring urgent and coordinated action.
The concern was raised during the Foundation’s March edition of its Monthly Virtual Mentorship Programme, where Dr. Muhammad Kasim, a Resident Doctor at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), delivered a presentation highlighting the socio-economic implications of substance abuse.
Citing data from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Foundation noted that Nigeria has a drug use prevalence rate of 14.4%, affecting an estimated 14.3 million people. Youths make up a significant proportion of this figure, raising concerns about the country’s future workforce and social stability.
SABMF warned that the increasing availability of both conventional and synthetic drugs is fueling addiction, mental health disorders, and criminal activities, while also placing pressure on healthcare systems and weakening family structures and educational outcomes.
The Foundation further highlighted that socio-economic challenges in Northern Nigeria—including poverty, unemployment, and low school enrollment—are increasing young people’s vulnerability to substance abuse. It also expressed concern over the growing normalization of dangerous locally compounded drugs.
To address the crisis, SABMF called for a multi-sectoral response. Key recommendations include integrating drug education into school curricula, expanding access to rehabilitation and mental health services, and strengthening the capacity of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to enforce drug control measures.
Other proposed measures include increased investment in youth empowerment programmes, job creation initiatives, and targeted interventions to tackle poverty and improve access to education. The Foundation also emphasized the need for data-driven policymaking to ensure effective and sustainable solutions.
SABMF urged all stakeholders—government agencies, civil society groups, educational institutions, and community leaders—to collaborate in addressing the growing menace.
“Immediate, coordinated, and sustained action is imperative to avert a deeper national crisis,” the statement concluded.
The Foundation reaffirmed its commitment, under Engr. Abubakar Gambo Umar, to sustained advocacy and youth-focused initiatives aimed at safeguarding the wellbeing and future of Nigerian youth.
