The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has revealed that women account for one in every four Nigerians involved in drug and substance abuse, yet only one in 20 people receiving rehabilitation and treatment is female.
In a memorandum submitted to the House of Representatives ad hoc Committee investigating rising drug abuse, chaired by Oluwatimehin Adelegbe (APC, Ondo State), the UN agency warned that stigma and barriers to access disproportionately affect women and girls.
The UNODC also disclosed that an estimated 244 million people worldwide engaged in drug use in 2025, with Nigeria’s prevalence nearly three times higher than the global average, raising serious concerns for public health and national security.
If current trends continue, drug use across Africa could rise by 40 percent by 2030, potentially leaving Nigeria with more than 20 million drug users.
Cannabis, Opioids, and Policy Recommendations
Findings from the 2025 World Drug Report showed that about 144 million people used cannabis in 2023, representing 4.6 percent of the global population aged 15–24.
Cannabis use has risen by 34 percent over the past decade and remains the primary drug of concern for 32 percent of people in treatment across Africa. Globally, cannabis accounts for 42 percent of drug use disorder cases.
The UNODC further reported that 61 million people used opioids in 2023, including 30 million heroin users, representing 0.57 percent of the global population aged 15–64.
To address these challenges, the agency recommended:
- Decriminalisation of possession for personal use within defined thresholds, shifting users from criminal justice to health services.
- Institutionalising harm reduction strategies in national laws and policies.
- Strengthening asset forfeiture and financial investigations.
- Providing legal backing for needle and syringe programmes, Naloxone distribution, medication-assisted treatment, and community outreach.
In a separate submission, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) highlighted emerging trafficking patterns, including courier services, luggage concealment, and digital ordering systems.
It warned of transnational criminal networks exploiting porous borders, clandestine methamphetamine labs in fringe communities, and a rise in poly-drug trafficking, where multiple substances are moved simultaneously to reduce detection risks.
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