The European Union (EU), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) have pledged support for Nigeria’s 2026–2030 drug control plan.
The support is aimed at tackling substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.
The EI, UNODC and ECOWAS gave the assurance in their remarks at the opening session of a two-day National Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP) Consultative Forum organised by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Monday in Abuja.
The Deputy Head of the EU delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Zissimos Vergos, said the EU was prepared to assist Nigeria in drug control efforts.
“What affects the youth of Maiduguri or the streets of Ibadan does not stay within Nigerian borders,” Vergos said, adding that drug trafficking was a transnational challenge, hence, the master plan laid before the forum was Nigeria’s contribution to a transnational response.
He said Nigeria possessed the talent, institutions and experience needed to overcome challenges, noting that the new roadmap provided a fresh direction, just as he assured that the EU remained committed to partnering with the country in its implementation.
According to him, the EU has also updated its own drug strategy and action plan, with stronger international cooperation as one of its main pillars.
In his goodwill message, UNODC Country Representative, Mr. Chiekh Touré, said the world was currently witnessing a profound shift in the drug landscape.
This, he said is particularly with the rise of synthetic drugs, the increased sophistication of trafficking networks and the use of technology to expand illicit markets.
According to him, the UNODC partnership with NDLEA and the Government of Nigeria is growing from strengthening law enforcement capacity to advancing drug demand reduction.
The Commissioner, Human Development and Social Affairs, ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Daniel Amankwaah, said the Nigerian master plan was paramount to the ECOWAS Commission, adding that this was because some of the contents used by member states were generated from the initiative.
He described the development as a crucial moment, while expressing satisfaction that the support provided to the NDLEA had been effectively utilized with visible results already being recorded.
