Stakeholders in Lagos have called on journalists to play a stronger role in preventing drug abuse and illicit trafficking as Nigeria marked the 2026 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
The call was made at a media practitioners’ capacity-building programme organised by the Nigerian Online Media Alliance in collaboration with ISSUP Nigeria, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, and the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba. The event brought together media professionals, health experts, security agencies, policymakers, and anti-drug advocates to discuss the role of journalism in prevention and public awareness.
NOMA Chairperson Theresa Moses said the programme was designed to equip journalists with the knowledge and skills needed to confront what she described as one of Nigeria’s most pressing social challenges. She said journalists have a unique responsibility as educators, agenda-setters, and advocates, and urged them to embrace ethical, evidence-based reporting while avoiding sensationalism and misinformation.
In his keynote address, Dr. Olugbenga Owoeye, Chief Medical Director of the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, described drug abuse and illicit trafficking as a major public health challenge. He said prevention remains the most effective and cost-efficient response, especially in a country where mental health professionals are limited. He added that more than 1,200 substance use prevention and treatment professionals have been trained through international collaborations and professional programmes.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Buba Marwa, warned that Africa faces a rapidly growing drug problem and said Nigeria remains at the centre of the challenge. He cited national drug use prevalence of 14.4 percent, far above the global average of 5.6 percent, and said law enforcement alone cannot solve the crisis. According to him, reducing demand is the ultimate solution, making the media an essential partner in shaping attitudes and behaviour, especially among young people.
President of ISSUP Nigeria, Dr. Olajumoke Koyejo, spoke on addiction as a chronic brain disease rather than a moral failure. She said stigma remains one of the biggest barriers to treatment and introduced participants to the VIBECHECK platform, a digital screening and referral tool designed to support people at risk of substance use disorders.
Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, warned that social media is increasingly normalising substance abuse among young people. He said economic hardship, unemployment, and peer pressure are also driving factors, while outlining state initiatives such as LASKADA, school sensitisation campaigns, rehabilitation services, and digital mental health support.
Prince Joseph Idiong of the Association of Nigerian Exporters said drug trafficking also hurts legitimate trade by subjecting exporters to tighter scrutiny, shipment delays, demurrage, and reputational damage. He urged journalists to work with international organisations to promote evidence-based prevention campaigns.
Stakeholders agreed that drug abuse and illicit trafficking are not only health and security issues but also developmental challenges that require collective action from parents, teachers, community leaders, faith-based organisations, civil society, security agencies, and the media.