The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking syndicates, a move that is yielding positive results in Delta State with a significant reduction in substance abuse cases.
Delta State Commander of the NDLEA, Halilu Hamidu, disclosed this during the MTN Anti-Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP) advocacy road walk held in Asaba today to commemorate the United Nations Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The advocacy road walk attracted participants from the NDLEA, the Military, the Police, other sister security agencies, civil society organisations, students and other stakeholders, all united in promoting a drug-free society and safeguarding the future of Nigeria’s youth.
Hamidu attributed the improvement in the state’s drug abuse statistics to sustained enforcement operations against drug cartels and continuous public sensitisation campaigns by the agency and its partners. According to him, Delta State, which previously ranked among the states with the highest incidence of drug abuse, has witnessed remarkable progress over the past two years.
“If you check the statistics before now, maybe in the last two years, Delta State was among the leading states in terms of drug abuse. But today, because of our sustained advocacy and the clampdown on drug trafficking networks, the rate has drastically reduced,” he said.
The NDLEA commander explained that the advocacy walk was organised to mark the United Nations Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking while sending a strong message on the dangers of drug abuse and trafficking. He stressed the need for continuous public education, urging families, communities and institutions to intensify efforts to discourage drug abuse, which he described as a major threat to public health, security and national development.
“Drug abuse destroys lives, tears families apart and ruins the future of young people. We must continue to educate ourselves and the public about its dangers because a drug-free society is a healthier and safer society,” Hamidu added.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of the MTN Nigeria Foundation, Odunayo Sanya, represented by the Foundation’s Head of National Priority Portfolio, Pamela Emodi, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to reducing first-time substance abuse among Nigerian youths through its Anti-Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP). Sanya explained that ASAP is a multi-stakeholder and multi-sectoral behavioural change initiative targeted at young Nigerians between the ages of 10 and 25 years.
According to the MTN boss, since its launch in 2019, the programme has reached more than 100 million people through digital advocacy campaigns and awareness initiatives. Odunayo Sanya said the advocacy walk was more than a symbolic exercise, describing it as a collective call to action aimed at inspiring positive choices among young people.
“Today, we didn’t just walk; we stood for a purpose. We are raising our voices for a cause that matters deeply to our communities and our future. Change begins with awareness, grows through unity and is sustained by commitment,” the Executive Director said.
Odunayo Sanya noted that every step taken during the walk represented hope, responsibility and a shared determination to build safer and healthier communities free from substance abuse.
