The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has partnered with Nigeria's National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to curb substance abuse, warning that the socio-economic toll especially the loss of productive youth is undermining national and regional development.
Speaking at a capacity-building workshop for officers of the Nigeria Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (NENDU) in Lagos, ECOWAS Humanitarian Affairs Director, Dr. Sintiki Ugbe, represented by Dr. Daniel Amankwaah, stressed that credible data is key to tackling drug abuse, which is linked to terrorism, crime, and violence.
Participants from NDLEA's 37 treatment centres nationwide will receive laptops, desktops, scanners, and photocopiers to strengthen data gathering and reporting.
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NDLEA Chairman, Buba Marwa, represented by Dr. Ngozi Madubuike, said the NENDU system generates timely, reliable data critical for drug prevention, treatment, and policymaking. "The quality of data you generate directly impacts national planning," he noted.
Both agencies emphasised that reducing drug abuse will save lives, restore productivity, and drive economic growth across West Africa.
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