The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has has recently revealed that over 14 million Nigerians are engaged in drug misuse, highlighting a growing crisis of substance abuse in the country.
Amidst these concerns, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has expressed deep alarm over the increasing prevalence of drug abuse among secondary school students.
During an awareness campaign at Government Girls Secondary School, Rumuokwuta, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, represented by the agency’s South-South Zonal Coordinator, Oligbu Chukwuma, warned that secondary schools were becoming breeding grounds for drug abuse.
Describing the issue as a national menace, Adeyeye stressed that drug abuse is a significant factor contributing to the country’s rising crime rates and declining productivity. She further cautioned that substance abuse among students has severe consequences, including poor academic performance, absenteeism, and long-term health implications.
Addressing the students, she urged them to reject drug use and serve as ambassadors of NAFDAC’s anti-drug campaign within their schools and communities.
NAFDAC has continued to intensify efforts to curb drug abuse through education, regulation, and enforcement measures, underscoring the agency’s commitment to tackling the escalating crisis.
