National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it will establish six standard rehabilitation centres in each geo-political zone, starting from 2022.
Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Buba Marwa disclosed this at the 5th Biennial National Symposium on Drugs and Drug Policy in Nigeria, held in Abuja.
The theme of the symposium organised by the Centre for Research and Information on Substance Abuse (CRISA) is: “Substance Use, Addictive Behaviours and COVID-19.”
Marwa, who was the Guest of Honour at the symposium, said the decision was part of efforts to treat the high number of persons suffering from drug addiction in the country.
He said when established, the centres would complement various efforts by the Federal, State and Local Governments.
Marwa explained that three of the centres would start next year as already proposed in the 2022 budget.
He noted that the agency had also appealed to state governments to build more habitation centres, as existing ones were inadequate.
The NDLEA Chairman added that there was no doubt that substance use was impacting negatively on the individual, family and society in general.
Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary and Public Petitions, Mr Luke Onofiok, described drugs and substance abuse as delicate issues that were fast gaining attention in Nigeria and the world.
Onofiok said there was an increasing indulgence of the Nigerian populace in the injurious pastime of hard drugs consumption.
“The statistics are scary, to say the least, considering the impact of drug use on the economy, productivity, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), crime, law enforcement and governance.
“The situation should raise concerns among policymakers and among parents, most of whose children are vulnerable, and could slip into the unhealthy drug consumption vortex.’’
RN