IBADAN — The Oyo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has raised alarm over the rising prevalence of drug use among Nigerian youth, revealing that four to five out of every 10 undergraduates are now involved in drug consumption.

The startling disclosure was made on Wednesday by the state NDLEA Commander, Olayinka Joe-Fadile, during a rally held in Ibadan to mark the 2025 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, also known as World Drug Day.

The global observance, held annually on June 26, aims to reinforce international cooperation and commitment toward eradicating drug abuse. This year’s theme is “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention, Break the Circle.”

Speaking at the rally, Joe-Fadile warned that drug abuse in Nigeria has become increasingly pervasive, with children as young as nine now involved in substance use.

“We are intensifying campaigns across primary and secondary schools, as well as tertiary institutions in the state, because the age demographic for drug use is dropping alarmingly,” he said. “The statistics now show that between four to five out of every 10 undergraduates are into drugs.”

He noted that the agency’s ongoing anti-drug campaign stresses the need for sustained, long-term action to dismantle the networks of organised crime and drug trafficking. 

According to him, this can only be achieved by tackling the root causes, investing in prevention programmes, and strengthening public health, education, and social support systems.

The commander revealed that the Oyo NDLEA Command had, in recent months, arrested 150 individuals for drug-related offences and destroyed approximately 11 tons of seized illicit substances.

Joe-Fadile also warned of the grave health consequences associated with drug abuse, stating that prolonged use could lead to irreversible internal organ damage and eventual death.

He assured the public that the NDLEA remains committed to holding drug producers and distributors accountable.

“Every day is for the thief, but one day is for the owner,” he said. “The NDLEA will soon knock at the doors of drug peddlers to arrest and prosecute them under the law.”

To strengthen grassroots mobilisation, Joe-Fadile said traditional rulers across Oyo State have been inducted as NDLEA ambassadors to lead community-level sensitization campaigns. 

He added that the agency is also partnering with religious leaders to leverage their influence in spreading anti-drug messages.

The rally was attended by officials of the Nigerian Army, Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, and the National Youth Service Corps, among others.