Government officials and international representatives have urged state governments to implement community-based interventions to combat substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking at the grassroots level. This call was made at a training workshop in Abuja organized by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for the Nigeria Governors Spouses’ Forum.

The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, represented by Hajiya Laila Jibrin Barau, emphasized the need for concerted efforts and community-driven responses that integrate enforcement, education, family support, and sustained intervention. She commended the NDLEA, led by Brig-Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa, for their efforts in confronting drug abuse and trafficking, acknowledging the growing crisis affecting the health and future of Nigerian children.

Brig-Gen Marwa highlighted the NDLEA's achievements in drug supply reduction, including the arrest of 62,595 drug suspects, seizure of 10,317,137.55 kg of assorted drugs, and conviction of 11,628 offenders between January 2021 and March 2025. The agency also destroyed 1,330.56553 hectares of cannabis farms. Marwa emphasized the importance of a balanced approach, with equal emphasis on drug demand reduction, noting that 24,375 drug users received counseling and treatment at NDLEA facilities during the same period.

Cheikh Ousmane Toure, the UNODC Country Representative, stressed that the solution to the drug crisis must originate within communities, schools, and homes. He emphasized the importance of state and local governments taking ownership of the fight against drug abuse and adopting evidence-based programs tailored to their cultural contexts, while also decentralizing treatment access.

Dr. Daniel Amankwaah, representing ECOWAS, also encouraged state governments to invest in prevention and treatment efforts at the state and community levels, reinforcing the need for grassroots interventions.