The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reaffirmed its resolve to intensify the fight against drug trafficking and substance abuse, calling for stronger cooperation among security agencies, communities and development partners to protect young Nigerians from the rising menace of illicit drugs.
This was disclosed at a stakeholders’ conference held in Ilorin, Kwara State, where security operatives, policymakers, educators and civil society groups gathered to explore practical solutions to the growing challenge of narcotics use among youths.
The conference, themed “The World Drug Problem: Persisting Issues, New Challenges and Innovative Responses,” was organised by the MTN Foundation’s Anti-Substance Abuse Programme in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the Kwara State Governor on Drug Abuse Prevention and Control, and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
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Speaking through its Kwara Area Command, the NCS emphasised that tackling drug abuse requires a multi-sectoral approach involving security agencies, schools, families and community leaders, stressing that no single institution can address the problem alone.
The event attracted representatives from the NDLEA, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria Correctional Service and other stakeholders involved in drug control and youth development.
Participants raised concerns over the growing impact of substance abuse on young people, warning that it poses serious risks to public health, security, education and national productivity if left unchecked.
They called for stronger preventive strategies, sustained public awareness campaigns and early intervention programmes, while urging parents to take a more active role in guiding and monitoring their children.
Stakeholders also underscored the importance of schools, religious bodies and traditional institutions in promoting positive values and educating youths on the dangers of drug abuse and related social vices.
Dignitaries at the conference included the representative of the First Lady of Kwara State and Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Maryam Iya Imam, as well as the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Drug Abuse Prevention and Control, Mukail Aileru, alongside senior government officials and development partners.
Key presentations at the event focused on emerging drug trends, innovative prevention strategies and ways to strengthen enforcement against trafficking networks operating across the country.
The MTN Foundation noted that its Anti-Substance Abuse Programme, launched in 2019, has continued to train teachers, students and National Youth Service Corps members nationwide, while also supporting awareness campaigns aimed at discouraging drug use among young people.
The conference ended with a collective commitment to deepen collaboration, expand sensitisation efforts and strengthen community-based interventions to combat substance abuse and safeguard the future of Nigeria’s youth.
