Without Urgent Action, Africa Faces 40% Surge in Drug Use

Without Urgent Action, Africa Faces 40% Surge in Drug Use – NDLEA Chairman Warns

The Chairman of Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Retired Brigadier General Buba Marwa, has sounded a critical alarm over the growing drug abuse crisis in Africa, warning that the continent may witness a 40% increase in drug use prevalence if decisive, coordinated action is not taken.

Marwa issued this warning on Monday while receiving a high-level delegation from the African Union Commission at the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja. He described the situation as a looming public health and security crisis far more severe than global projections, which estimate a 10–11% rise in drug use worldwide.

“This disparity signals a looming crisis that demands coordinated and accelerated action,” he said.

Shaping Africa’s Drug Policy Future

The NDLEA chief emphasized the strategic importance of the AU visit, noting that it signals a shift from policy rhetoric to results-driven engagement on the continent.

“We are particularly pleased that the African Union is approaching implementation as more than a theoretical exercise. Field consultations like this ensure a pragmatic and responsive framework,” Marwa added.

He reiterated NDLEA’s leadership role in shaping Africa’s anti-drug efforts and underlined the agency’s readiness to contribute meaningfully to the next continental framework for drug control and crime prevention.

AU Drafting 2026–2030 Drug Control Strategy

The African Union Commission’s visit is part of a strategic assessment mission to evaluate progress on the current African Union Plan of Action on Drug Control and Crime Prevention (2019–2025) and to collect input for the upcoming 2026–2030 framework.

Dr. Olubusayo Akinola, Head of Social Welfare, Drug Control, and Crime Prevention at the AU Commission, led the three-member delegation. He emphasized that the NDLEA’s input is essential to the success of the new action plan.

“We are here to understand the status of implementation of the continental action plan on drug control and crime prevention. The new plan won’t be complete without NDLEA’s input. You are on the forefront of law enforcement on the entire continent,” Akinola stated.

AU Commends NDLEA, Seeks Deeper Collaboration

The AU delegation lauded the NDLEA for its policy-relevant data, consistent law enforcement, and regional leadership in combating drug trafficking and abuse.

The Commission also outlined key areas of potential support, including:

Forensic science upgrades
Canine detection units
Capacity building and technical assistance
Institutional and operational gap assessments

“Strengthening agencies like NDLEA will have a ripple effect across the continent in securing our youth and improving public safety,” said Prof. Johan Strijdom, a Senior Drug Control Consultant with the AU.

Both NDLEA and the African Union agree that urgent, coordinated measures are critical to averting a deeper drug epidemic in Africa. With young populations increasingly exposed to trafficking networks, synthetic drugs, and addiction, stakeholders warn that inaction could reverse public health gains and heighten regional insecurity.