KWSG Backs NDLEA, Urges Media to Amplify ‘War Against Drug Abuse’

The Kwara State Government has described the scale of drug seizures in the state as “alarming” and is urging media organisations to amplify anti-drug campaigns.

Commissioner for Communications, Hon. Bolanle Olukoju, made the call on Wednesday in Ilorin during the 2026 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. She commended the NDLEA for its relentless efforts to prevent dangerous substances from reaching communities across Kwara.

“Imagine if all these drugs got into our towns and into the hands of children. It is alarming. Every time they stop one channel, another emerges. Just look at the brand-new V8 Jeep used to convey drugs; without intelligence, nobody would suspect it,” Olukoju said. She also noted that the creativity of traffickers makes the fight more urgent and complex.

Olukoju stressed that the government alone cannot win the war against drug abuse without the media. She urged journalists, broadcasters and online platforms to use their reach to educate, inform and caution the public, especially young people who are most vulnerable.

She pledged continued support from the Kwara State Government to NDLEA, adding that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s administration remains committed to policies that protect lives and secure communities. The Commissioner cited the state’s drug-testing policy for students and teachers as one proactive step already yielding results.

Olukoju also called on parents, community leaders and religious institutions to take responsibility for monitoring children and wards. “Prevention starts at home and in neighborhoods. Early detection can save lives and futures,” she said.

She encouraged residents to partner with security agencies by reporting suspicious movements. “If you see something, say something. The NDLEA toll-free line is there for confidential reports. Together, we can keep Kwara safe and drug-free,” she urged.

Her remarks came as the NDLEA Kwara State Command revealed major enforcement gains over the last year.

Earlier in her presentation, the State Commandant of the NDLEA Kwara Command, Hajia Fatima Popoola, disclosed that between June 26, 2025, and June 26, 2026, the command arrested 985 suspected drug offenders and seized 5,781.402kg of illicit substances. Sixty-eight offenders were convicted by the Federal High Court in Ilorin within the same period.

Popoola said Kwara’s position as a gateway between Northern and Southern Nigeria makes it a transit hub, with the Ogbomosho-Jebba Highway accounting for most major arrests. She cited last week’s interception of 600 blocks of cannabis weighing 304kg concealed in a brand-new V8 Jeep with a Federal Government plate number at Jebba.

According to her, Cannabis, including synthetic variants such as Loud and Colorado, remains the most seized drug, alongside tramadol, skunk, Molly, cough syrups, amphetamine-type stimulants, Rohypnol, Captagon and Tapentadol. Popoola described last month’s Captagon seizure along the Ogbomosho-Jebba route as a “high-profile” breakthrough linked to terrorist activity.

The command also flagged the growing use of technology by traffickers. Popoola said NDLEA arrested university students in Kwara last year for baking cannabis-infused cakes and selling them online.

On rehabilitation, 29 drug-dependent persons were admitted into NDLEA’s facility and 28 discharged after treatment. Another 213 users received brief interventions, while 10,000 students and 2,000 newly recruited teachers were tested under Kwara’s drug-testing policy.

Popoola lamented inadequate operational vehicles and motorcycles, and appealed for state support to destroy over 5 tonnes of seized drugs in custody. Residents were urged to report suspicious activity through the toll-free helpline 080010203040.

Also speaking, the Chairperson of the Kwara State Drug Control Committee, Pharmacist Barakat Olarewaju, represented by Alhaji Wahab Ajibola, commended NDLEA for its efforts in tackling illicit drug abuse in the state.

She said the committee has been carrying out sustained sensitization campaigns in schools and communities to support NDLEA’s mandate.

“Between July 2025 and June 2026, we sensitized 55 secondary schools across the three senatorial districts and 28 communities,” she said. “We have been collaborating with NDLEA for a while now, and they are doing a wonderful job.”

She particularly commended the State Commandant, Hajia Fatima Popoola, for her leadership and commitment to drug control in Kwara.

Ishaq Azeezat Joke 

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