Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mohamed Marwa has cautioned Nigerian youths against drug abuse, warning that its fleeting pleasure comes with devastating consequences capable of ruining their future.
Marwa gave the warning on Tuesday while delivering the convocation lecture at the 29th and 30th combined ceremony of the University of Abuja, titled: “High Today, Lost Tomorrow: The Real Cost of Drug Abuse on Campus.”
He said substance abuse had evolved from a street problem to a major concern within tertiary institutions, noting that the drug environment now includes synthetic opioids and designer substances such as colorado, loud and methamphetamine.
According to him, the increasing use of social media platforms for drug distribution and the involvement of students in trafficking have compounded the challenge.
“A criminal record for drug offences is a life sentence on your career before it even begins. You cannot practise law, medicine or engineering with a drug-related conviction,” he warned.
Marwa said drug abuse impairs memory and critical thinking, fuels cultism and campus violence, and truncates professional ambitions due to strict enforcement policies.
He expressed concern over the loss of young Nigerians to addiction, psychosis and premature death, describing it as a grave threat to national development.
Citing data from the 2018 National Drug Use and Health Survey, he said youths between 25 and 39 years constitute the highest number of drug users, with initiation often beginning around age 19.
He added that recent NDLEA statistics show that over 60 per cent of the 77,859 suspects arrested for drug-related offences in the past five years were youths, while a majority of the 48,836 persons treated in agency facilities were also young people.
Addressing graduating students, Marwa urged them to remain focused and avoid peer pressure.
“You are about to enter a world that is AI-powered and fintech-driven. There is no room for a clouded mind in a fast-paced world.
“Choose your circle wisely. If your friends require you to be ‘high’ to belong, then you are in the wrong company,” he said.
The NDLEA boss stressed that character should take precedence over academic achievement, urging the students not to trade their future for temporary indulgence.
“Nigeria needs your talent, your energy and, most importantly, your sober mind to lead us into the next decade,” he added.
Marwa called on stakeholders to support government efforts in tackling drug abuse, noting that its effects extend beyond individuals to families, institutions and the wider society through increased crime, reduced productivity and reputational damage.
He emphasised the strong link between drug abuse and criminality, urging collective action to curb the menace.
The NDLEA boss commended the University of Abuja for its collaboration with the agency in strengthening campus surveillance and urged other institutions to intensify drug education during orientation and lectures.
Dignitaries at the event included the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the university, Senator Olanrewaju Tejuoso; Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi, and other officials of the university and the NDLEA.
