Marwa Warns UniAbuja Students on Devastating Cost of Drug Abuse …Says Nigeria Needs Youths’ Talent, Energy and Sober Minds for the Future
Oru Leonard
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mohamed Buba Marwa, has cautioned Nigerian youths—particularly those in tertiary institutions—against the dangers of drug abuse, warning that its temporary euphoria carries long-term devastating consequences capable of derailing their futures.
Marwa gave the warning on Tuesday while delivering the convocation lecture at the 29th and 30th Combined Convocation Ceremony of the University of Abuja. The lecture, titled “High Today, Lost Tomorrow: The Real Cost of Drug Abuse on Campus,” highlighted the growing prevalence of substance abuse within academic environments.
According to him, drug abuse has evolved from a street-level problem to a serious concern within lecture halls, fueled by the proliferation of synthetic opioids and designer drugs such as Colorado, Loud, and Methamphetamine. He also expressed concern over the use of social media platforms for drug distribution and the involvement of students in trafficking networks.
“A criminal record for drug offences is a life sentence on your career before it even begins. You cannot practice law, medicine, or engineering with a drug-related conviction,” Marwa warned.
He explained that substance abuse impairs cognitive functions by altering brain neurotransmitters, leading to memory loss and poor decision-making. He further linked drug abuse to cultism and rising campus violence, stressing that NDLEA maintains a zero-tolerance policy against offenders.
Citing data from the 2018 National Drug Use and Health Survey, Marwa revealed that most substance abusers in Nigeria fall within the 25–39 age bracket, with initiation commonly occurring around age 19. He added that recent trends show even younger individuals, including children below 15, experimenting with illicit substances.
Providing further statistics, he noted that over 60 percent of the 77,859 drug offenders arrested by NDLEA in the past five years were youths. Similarly, the majority of the 48,836 individuals counselled and treated in NDLEA facilities during the same period were young people.
Addressing graduating students, Marwa urged them to embrace sobriety as they step into a rapidly evolving, technology-driven world.
“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 carefully. If your friends require you to be ‘high’ to belong, you are in the wrong company,” he said.
He emphasized that drug abuse has far-reaching consequences beyond the individual, affecting families, institutions, and national development through lost productivity and increased crime rates.
“A nation cannot thrive when its youth—its greatest asset—are compromised,” he added, calling on all stakeholders to intensify efforts in combating substance abuse.
Marwa also commended the leadership of the University of Abuja for its collaboration with NDLEA in strengthening campus surveillance and drug control measures. He urged other institutions to incorporate robust drug education into orientation programmes and academic curricular.
Dignitaries at the lecture included the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Olanrewaju Tejuoso; the Vice-Chancellor, Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi; Council Member, Adedeji Adefuye; senior university officials; students; and top NDLEA officers.
