A new United Nations report has exposed a severe gender disparity in Nigeria's drug crisis, revealing that while women constitute a quarter of all drug users, they are drastically underrepresented in rehabilitation programs.
Alarming Statistics and a Growing Crisis
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) presented these findings in a memorandum to the House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee investigating the surge in drug and substance abuse. The committee is led by Oluwatimehin Adelegbe, a lawmaker from Ondo State representing the APC.
The data shows a stark contrast: women make up 25% (one in four) of drug users in Nigeria, yet only 5% (one in 20) of those receiving treatment are female. The UN agency stated this gap strongly indicates that stigma and other barriers to access are disproportionately affecting women and girls, preventing them from seeking help.
Globally, the situation is dire. The UNODC estimates that 244 million people worldwide engaged in drug abuse in 2025. For Africa, the projection is even more concerning, with drug use expected to increase by 40% by the year 2030 if current trends hold.
Nigeria's Rate Triples Global Average
The report highlights that Nigeria's prevalence of drug use is nearly three times higher than the global average. This alarming rate raises serious red flags for both public health and national security. The agency warned that for Nigeria alone, continued trends could lead to more than 20 million drug users, creating what it termed a severe threat to the nation.
Key findings from the UNODC 2025 World Drug Report, cited in the memorandum, include:
- Cannabis remains a primary concern, used by about 144 million people globally in 2023. Its use has risen by 34% over the past decade.
- In Africa, cannabis is the main drug of concern for 32% of people in treatment.
- Globally, 2.3% of women aged 15-64 used cannabis.
- Cannabis is linked to an estimated 42% of global drug use disorder cases.
- An estimated 61 million people used opioids in 2023, including 30 million heroin users.
Policy Recommendations and Emerging Threats
To combat the crisis, the UNODC made several key recommendations to the Nigerian committee:
- Decriminalise possession of drugs for personal use within defined limits to shift users from the criminal justice system to health services.
- Institutionalise harm reduction strategies in national laws, supporting programmes like needle exchanges and medication-assisted treatment.
- Strengthen asset forfeiture and financial investigations to target trafficking networks.
In a related submission, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) outlined new trafficking patterns, including:
- Increased use of courier services and digital ordering systems.
- Exploitation of regional instability and porous borders by transnational networks.
- The emergence of clandestine methamphetamine labs in fringe communities.
- A rise in poly-drug trafficking to reduce detection risks.
The combined data from the UN and national agency paints a picture of a rapidly evolving drug epidemic in Nigeria, with women particularly vulnerable due to significant barriers in accessing crucial treatment and support services.
