The Kwara State Government and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have called on communities across the state to join the fight against drug trafficking and substance abuse, saying collective action is critical to protecting young people and securing the future of society.
The appeal was made by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the Kwara State Commander of the NDLEA, Hajia Fatima Popoola, during activities marking the 2026 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking organised by the Balogun Gambari Wards Development Association (BAGWADA) at its secretariat in Akerebiata, Ilorin.
Represented by his Senior Adviser and Counsellor, Alhaji Saadu Salahu, the governor urged religious leaders to use their sermons and teachings to educate worshippers on the dangers of drug abuse and its devastating impact on individuals, families and communities.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting initiatives aimed at protecting young people through sustained funding, partnerships and policies that discourage drug abuse.
“Hard drugs do not only destroy health, they destroy ambition, education, security, and the future of Kwara. Today’s sensitisation is therefore not just an event, it is an intervention to save a generation.
“Gambari Development Association has shown leadership by convening this town hall with NDLEA. Ilorin is our home. When our youths fall to the grip of hard drugs, entire families, markets, schools, and communities feel the pain,” AbdulRazaq said.
The governor said youth protection and public safety remained priorities of his administration, noting that the state government had continued to provide operational support to the NDLEA to strengthen its activities across Kwara.
He said the government had expanded counselling, rehabilitation and reintegration services for young people recovering from drug addiction through the Ministry of Social Development.
“Through the Ministry of Social Development, we have expanded counseling, rehabilitation, and reintegration services for youths exiting drug abuse. Partnerships with faith-based and community groups are being strengthened to give young people a second chance.
“The administration has funded anti-drug clubs in secondary schools and tertiary institutions. Over 200 schools have been sensitised in the last 18 months, with peer educators trained to spot and report drug use early.
“By investing in the Kwara Youth Farm Project, Visual Arts Centre, and the ICT Innovation Hub, the government is giving our youths productive alternatives. An idle youth is vulnerable, but an engaged youth is protected.
“We have deepened collaboration between NDLEA, NSCDC, Police, and local vigilance groups in Gambari, Akerebiata, Sango, Tanke, and other hotspots. Intelligence sharing has improved arrest and seizure rates.
“The state has backed NDLEA’s ‘War Against Drug Abuse (WADA)’ campaign across radio, mosques, churches, markets and social media in English, Yoruba and Nupe to ensure no community is left out,” he added.
Speaking at the event, the Kwara State Commander of the NDLEA, Hajia Fatima Popoola, represented by her deputy, Usman Jibril, urged parents, guardians and community members to support the agency by providing useful information on the activities of drug traffickers and dealers.
She said the command would continue collaborating with communities while intensifying sensitisation campaigns among students, teachers and other critical stakeholders on the dangers of drug abuse.
“The effects of drug abuse are being felt by the communities, so we collaborate to flush out criminal elements who are not up to one percent of the community. If 99 percent will stand up and say no to drug peddling and abuse, the job will be a lot easier,” Jibril said.
Also speaking, the Imam Gambari of Ilorin, Sheikh Sulaiman AbdulAzeez, advocated a return to community parenting as a strategy for addressing rising drug abuse among young people.
The Chairperson of the Kwara State Drug Control Committee, Alhaja Barakat Olanrewaju, represented by Mr. Ade Bodunde, said the committee had introduced mandatory drug tests for newly admitted students into tertiary institutions and candidates shortlisted for employment as part of efforts to discourage substance abuse.
Chairman of the Balogun Gambari Wards Development Association, Engr. Ayo Awodi, said the event marked the culmination of several days of awareness campaigns across Gambari, Ibagun and Sango wards to promote the message that preventing drug abuse is a collective responsibility.
