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On a day meant to highlight the global fight against drug abuse, the NDLEA dropped a sobering statistic in Ibadan: 4 to 5 out of every 10 Nigerian undergraduates are into drugs. The warning came during a rally to mark the 2025 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
  • Oyo State NDLEA commander, Olayinke Joe-Fadile, sounded the alarm during a public rally.
  • The 2025 theme is: “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention, Break the Circle.”
  • NDLEA campaigns now target primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions.
  • Children as young as 9 are now being exposed to drugs.
  • 150 suspects arrested and 11 tons of illicit substances burned in recent months.
  • Traditional and religious leaders now serve as NDLEA ambassadors to boost outreach.
The NDLEA’s figures aren't just statistics; they’re a reflection of a quiet crisis unfolding on campuses and in classrooms. Addiction isn’t waiting for adulthood anymore. And the agency’s pivot to schools signals a growing awareness: this war must be won before it starts.

The reliance on community and spiritual influencers also suggests a shift from punishment to prevention and healing, a softer weapon in a hard fight. If youth are the future, then drug abuse is a direct assault on Nigeria’s long-term stability. With early exposure rising and organised crime lurking behind the supply chains, the NDLEA’s call to “invest in prevention” might be the only sustainable path forward.