PRESS STATEMENT

UNODC TO TRAIN NDLEA, OTHERS IN DRUG DEMAND REDUCTION

An elaborate action plan to regulate, upgrade and streamline drug abuse counselling, treatment and rehabilitation practice in the country is being worked upon by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other treatment centres. This preparation towards streamlining best practices in drug demand reduction nationwide is part of a national European Union (EU) funded project in response to drugs and related organised crime control in Nigeria.

Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade while receiving the UNODC Country representative in Nigeria, Mrs Mariam Sissoko and UNODC regional adviser on HIV & AIDS, Dr. Reychad Abdool at the Agency’s headquarters in Lagos said that the Agency is prepared to collaborate with UNODC, European Union and other stakeholders on narcotics and organised crime control in the country. 

According to Giade, the visit of UNODC to the agency is timely to address the current problem of drug use among youths. “We have in the last two years discovered five clandestine laboratories used for the production of methamphetamine in the country. The implication is that methamphetamine which is a powerful stimulant is now being produced locally. This must be checked at all levels. Drug transit countries are at risk of becoming drug consumers and there is even a higher risk when the drugs are locally produced. There is no better time to plan against drug abuse especially among the youths”.

Dr Abdool stated that he was impressed that Nigeria has a lot of experts in drug demand reduction that can be relied upon. “Nigeria has a lot of experts that can be used in creating a new and upgraded drug rehabilitation infrastructure. We hope to enhance the capacity of these experts for quality service delivery in drug counselling, treatment and rehabilitation in the country with NDLEA as the coordinating body”.

UNODC Country representative, Mrs Sissoko added that about 200 NDLEA officers will participate in the first phase of the project along with personnel from certified drug abuse treatment centres selected from the six geo-political zones in the country. “The project is designed to develop the capacity of professionals in charge of drug abuse treatment in the country. In the first phase, six treatment centres one from each geopolitical zone shall be upgraded to international standard. The ultimate aim is to encourage professionalism such that every practitioner both at the government and Non-Governmental level can operate within a minimum international standard in drug abuse counselling, treatment and rehabilitation”.

The visit of the UNODC boss which coincided with the first national planning committee meeting for the commemoration of the international day against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking is expected to strengthen drug control activities in the country. June 26 every year has been set aside by the United Nations in commemoration of the fight against drug production, trafficking and abuse.

Ofoyeju Mitchell