…advocates regional collaboration to curb trend
The Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, has expressed deep concern over the growing prevalence of drug and substance abuse among women and girls in the Niger Delta, calling for stronger regional collaboration to address the crisis.
Dr. Oreh made the call while delivering a keynote address at a Regional Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Drug Abuse Prevention in the Niger Delta, organized by Search for Common Ground (SFCG) in partnership with the Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN) and the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND).
The dialogue, held under the European Union-funded Community-Centred Approach to Transforming Criminality and Violence in the Niger Delta, brought together key actors from government ministries, civil society, religious institutions, security agencies, the media, community representatives, and the health sector. The objective was to strengthen coordination mechanisms and develop gender-responsive strategies to tackle the menace of drug abuse in the region.
Represented by Quata Roland, the State Coordinator of the Rivers State Drug and Substance Control Committee and Chairman of the Drug and Substance Reduction Committee of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (Rivers State Chapter), Dr. Oreh cited data from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC, 2019) showing that the South-South geopolitical zone has one of the highest rates of substance use in Nigeria.
According to the report, over 16.6 percent of people aged 15–64 engage in drug and substance use, with alcohol, marijuana, and heroin among the most abused.
While the figures present a grim regional picture, Dr. Oreh emphasized the increasing vulnerability of women, who are becoming both victims and participants in drug abuse due to poverty, gender-based violence, trauma, and limited access to healthcare and psychosocial support.
“Women and girls in the Niger Delta face unique pressures from social inequalities to trauma and exploitation that make them susceptible to drug use and trafficking. This dialogue must prioritize gender-sensitive approaches that ensure prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation efforts are inclusive, accessible, and safe for women,” Dr. Adaeze Oreh said.
The Commissioner described drug abuse as not only a public health emergency but also a threat to peace and security in the Niger Delta. She warned that addiction’s socioeconomic effects including mental health disorders, family breakdown, and youth violence continue to undermine community stability.
“We can no longer afford to treat drug abuse as an isolated health issue. It is deeply intertwined with our regional security, youth development, and peacebuilding efforts,” she said.
To address the growing challenge, Dr. Oreh proposed a multi-sectoral regional framework anchored on institutional collaboration, political commitment, and community engagement.
Her recommendations included: Institutionalizing regional coordination through the Niger Delta Governors’ Forum.
Adopting drug prevention and rehabilitation as core security priorities.
Creating inter-ministerial collaboration among Commissioners for Health, Education, Youth Development, and Justice, alongside NDLEA and Police Commands, to harmonize policies and intelligence sharing.
Mandating the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to fund and coordinate youth- and women-focused prevention programs.
Establishing a Regional Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Task Team and Drop-in Centres to offer accessible counselling and referral services.
Linking rehabilitation to vocational training and reintegration programs, and creating Community Support Groups and a Regional Youth Peace Champion Network to sustain community-driven advocacy.
Dr. Oreh further emphasized the importance of centering women in prevention and rehabilitation strategies, noting that many women in the region resort to drug use as a coping mechanism for trauma, domestic violence, and economic hardship.
She called for gender-inclusive rehabilitation programs that provide safe spaces for women—especially those who are pregnant, survivors of abuse, or single mothers—to receive holistic care without stigma.
“When we empower women and girls with knowledge, economic opportunities, and psychosocial support, we disrupt the cycles of drug dependency, exploitation, and violence that threaten our collective peace,” she added.
Dr. Oreh commended Search for Common Ground, SDN, PIND, and the European Union for their continued investment in peacebuilding and public health initiatives in the Niger Delta.
She urged traditional rulers, community leaders, youth groups, civil society, and security agencies to work together in sustaining the campaign against drug abuse.
“This is not just a fight against drugsit is a fight for the future of our people, our daughters, and our sons. Together, we can build a region where health, peace, and security are not aspirations but realities,” she affirmed.
The Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue is part of an EU-supported initiative implemented across 33 local government areas, 66 communities, and three states—Bayelsa, Rivers, and Delta.
