The lowest prevalence percentage of 10.0 (1.5 million persons) is found in the North-Central, followed by 12.0 per cent (three million persons) in the North-West, 13.6 per cent (2.09 million persons) in the North-East and 13.8 (1.55 million persons) in the South-East. According to the World Drug Report 2021 (by the World Health Organisation), drug abuse leads to 500,000 deaths annually. Buba Marwa, the Chairman of the NDLEA, links the insurgency, banditry and kidnapping for ransom in the North to drug abuse. ), told a World Drugs Day summit that Nigeria’s drugs epidemic is worse than the Islamist insurgency and banditry. Faith-based organisations, schools and families are integral in the fight against drugs abuse.

Source: Punch July 05, 2021 23:26 UTC