Nigeria is grappling with what experts describe as a deepening drug emergency, as about 14.3 million citizens aged between 15 and 64 reportedly used illicit substances within a one-year period, according to the latest National Drug Use Survey conducted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Health authorities and national experts have warned that the country risks losing a significant portion of its youth population to addiction, as drug abuse continues to evolve from isolated incidents into a widespread public health and security concern, according to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The crisis is particularly severe among young people, where access to drugs has become alarmingly cheap. Substances such as tramadol, codeine-based syrups, and cannabis are reportedly available for as little as ₦500 to ₦1,000, with distribution channels extending through informal vendors, street sellers, and some pharmacies operating without proper prescriptions, Vanguard reports.
Patterns of abuse are also shifting across regions. In urban centres like Lagos and Port Harcourt, synthetic cannabis variants and chemical mixtures are increasingly common, while in Abuja, the misuse of prescription sedatives such as diazepam and Rohypnol has been on the rise.
In rural areas, limited access to regulated substances has driven some youths toward the inhalation of petrol fumes, glue, and paint thinners. Others reportedly consume locally prepared mixtures such as “monkey tail,” a combination of local gin and cannabis, reflecting growing concerns over desperation, unemployment, and peer influence.
The NDLEA has intensified enforcement efforts, recording 3,913 arrests, 581 convictions, and the seizure of more than 113,000 kilograms of illicit drugs between January and February 2026 alone. Despite these gains, officials say the diversion of pharmaceutical products into the black market remains a persistent challenge.
Professor Christianah Adeyeye, Director-General of NAFDAC, stressed that enforcement alone is not enough to address the crisis. She warned that the normalization of drug use in social settings such as shisha lounges and student hostels has turned it into a broader cultural and social problem requiring a multi-sectoral response.
Meanwhile, survivors and families affected by addiction have continued to share painful experiences of its long-term impact. Experts caution that without sustained national intervention targeting both supply and demand, the growing cycle of substance abuse could have far-reaching consequences for Nigeria’s social and economic stability.