EU, UNODC, ECOWAS BACK NIGERIA'S NEW FIVE-YEAR DRUG CONTROL STRATEGY

EU, UNODC, ECOWAS BACK NIGERIA'S NEW FIVE-YEAR DRUG CONTROL STRATEGY 

By Jennifer Nwosu 

Nigeria’s next phase in the fight against substance abuse and illicit trafficking is drawing strong international support, as the European Union (EU), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) pledged closer collaboration on the country’s proposed 2026–2030 National Drug Control Master Plan.

In a statement released by the Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said the commitments were made during the opening of a two-day consultative forum in Abuja. The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig General Mohamed Buba Marwa(Rtd), warned against complacency despite recent enforcement successes, stressing that Nigeria faces an increasingly sophisticated drug landscape shaped by synthetic narcotics, digital trafficking platforms and expanding transnational criminal networks.

Representing the EU delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Zissimos Vergos said Europe views Nigeria’s security and stability as inseparable from its own. He described the proposed master plan as part of a broader transnational response to drug trafficking, noting that addiction and organized crime now carry cross-border consequences. Vergos also commended NDLEA leadership and personnel for their sustained commitment, adding that the EU remains prepared to deepen cooperation under its updated international drug strategy.

UNODC Country Representative Cheikh Ousmane Toure echoed similar concerns, warning that the global drug trade is rapidly evolving through synthetic substances, encrypted technology and more sophisticated trafficking systems. He said Nigeria now sits at the center of these emerging threats, making it critical for the country’s next strategy to be data-driven, adaptive and sustainable. Toure reaffirmed UNODC’s commitment to supporting law enforcement capacity, prevention, treatment and international cooperation initiatives.

Marwa, in his keynote remarks, painted a stark picture of the challenge ahead, citing projections of a 40 percent increase in drug use across Africa by 2030. He also referenced reports showing West Africa remains a major transit corridor for cocaine flows between Latin America and Europe. According to him, the new 2026–2030 framework introduces additional focus on alternative livelihoods and financial intelligence aimed at disrupting the economic foundations of trafficking networks.

Also speaking at the forum, ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs Daniel Amankwaah described Nigeria’s drug control framework as influential across the region, noting that several member states rely on its structure as a reference point. Minister of State for Education Suwaiba Said Ahmad called for a broader multi-sectoral response involving education, healthcare, law enforcement and community engagement to address both the causes and consequences of substance abuse.

The gathering also drew participation from representatives of the Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics and the National Orientation Agency, reinforcing what officials described as a collective effort to shape Nigeria’s anti-drug priorities for the next five years.

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