The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Mohamed Buba Marwa, has cautioned Nigerian youths against the far-reaching consequences of drug abuse, describing it as a dangerous path capable of permanently derailing their futures.
Marwa gave the warning while delivering the convocation lecture at the 29th and 30th combined ceremony of the University of Abuja on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi noted in a press statement that the lecture, titled “High Today, Lost Tomorrow: The Real Cost of Drug Abuse on Campus,” highlighted the growing threat of substance abuse among students.
He noted that drug abuse has evolved from a street-level issue into a serious campus concern, with increasing involvement of students in both consumption and trafficking. According to him, the drug landscape has expanded beyond traditional substances like cannabis to include synthetic opioids and designer drugs such as Colorado, Loud, and Methamphetamine.
“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 drug abuse affects the brain by altering neurotransmitters, leading to impaired memory, poor judgment, and diminished critical thinking. He also linked substance abuse to cultism and campus violence, stressing that the agency maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy.
Citing data from the 2018 National Drug Use and Health Survey, Marwa said substance abuse is prevalent among Nigerians aged 15 to 64, with the highest rate among those aged 25 to 39. He added that initiation into drug use typically begins around age 19, though cases involving children under 15 are increasingly being recorded.
Providing further statistics, he revealed that over 60 percent of the 77,859 drug offenders arrested by NDLEA in the past five years were youths. Similarly, most of the 48,836 individuals treated in NDLEA facilities within the same period were young people.
Addressing graduating students, Marwa urged them to remain focused and avoid negative peer influence as they transition into the workforce.
“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 ripple effects beyond the individual, impacting families, institutions, and national development through lost productivity and increased crime.
“A nation cannot thrive when its youth—its greatest asset—are compromised,” he added.
Marwa called on stakeholders, including academic institutions, to intensify drug education and prevention efforts, particularly during orientation programmes and within lecture halls.
He also commended the leadership of the University of Abuja for its collaboration with NDLEA in strengthening campus surveillance.
Dignitaries at the event included the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Senator Olanrewaju Tejuoso; Vice Chancellor, Professor Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi; Council Member, Dr. Adedeji Adefuye; senior university officials; students; and top NDLEA officers.
