ABUJA, Nigeria (CHATNEWSTV) – The Nigeria Governors Spouses’ Forum said Wednesday that a successful crackdown on drug abuse and illicit trafficking would significantly advance President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda, as they pledged to strengthen state-level efforts in support of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
“Successfully tackling the drug scourge will remarkably ensure that the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President is achievable for holistic national development required to birth a Nigeria of our collective dreams,” the forum declared in a communiqué read by Ogun State First Lady Bamidele Abiodun on behalf of the chairperson, Kwara State First Lady Prof. Olufolake Abdulrazaq.
The statement was issued at the conclusion of a training workshop held in Abuja by the NDLEA in collaboration with the forum.
The spouses warned that Nigeria faces a “deeply alarming drug use situation” that is threatening the health, safety and security of families and communities nationwide. They emphasized that states must play a pivotal role in combatting drug-related challenges through localized strategies and cross-sector collaboration.
The forum praised the leadership of NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, citing “phenomenal national and global success records in arrests, seizures, prosecutions, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation.”
Calling for urgent action, the governors’ wives urged their husbands and the federal government to declare a state of emergency on drug use and trafficking.
“The drug problem is fueling complex public health and security challenges. Urgent, coordinated action is necessary,” the forum said, adding that drug demand reduction efforts must reach rural communities where vulnerability is highest.
The forum resolved to push for the establishment of State Drug Control Committees (SDCCs) in all 36 states—far beyond the nine that currently exist. It also called for the formation of Local Government Drug Abuse Committees, in line with Nigeria’s National Drug Control Master Plan.
They reaffirmed their commitment to the Drug Abuse Prevention Treatment and Care (DPTC) initiative as a signature project to be led by each state’s first lady.
Additionally, the forum urged partnerships with the private sector, civil society, and other stakeholders to develop sustainable community-based prevention and treatment projects.
“We must create health- and people-centered solutions that address the root causes of substance abuse, reduce stigma, and build long-term resilience in our communities,” the forum said.
The NDLEA described the collaboration with the forum as a “laudable partnership” that has yielded “notable milestones” in the battle against drug abuse.
