Afrobeats singer Adekunle Temitope, better known by his stage name Small Doctor, has raised a red flag over the escalating drug abuse crisis among Nigerian youths, following a visit to his childhood neighborhood in Agege, Lagos, PUNCH ONLINE reports.

Taking to his X handle on Wednesday, the artist voiced his concern after encountering several familiar faces from his past, young men who now seemed lost to addiction.

Many, he noted, were “sleeping while standing” or frozen in crazy postures, visibly dazed and disconnected from reality.

Small Doctor made an impassioned call for stronger advocacy against drug abuse. He urged fellow public figures to use their platforms to speak out, emphasising the urgency of the situation.

Reflecting on a conversation he had six years ago with Fuji legend Wasiu Ayinde (KWAM 1), Small Doctor recalled being advised to set up a rehabilitation centre, an idea KWAM 1 said would become “the new oil” as the drug epidemic worsened. In hindsight, the singer admitted, “That man saw the future.”

Small Doctor wrote, “There is one bros that sings against drug abuse on socials, been a minute I came across his contents (David something can’t fully remember). I think we need him more at this moment.

“I strolled through hoods on Sunday and what I saw was heartbreaking. The rate young chaps use drugs nowadays is alarming.

“Wasiu Ayinde told me 6 years ago to establish a rehabilitation centre, stating it is the new oil. That man saw the future.

“Most heartbreaking was when I arrived in my hood, I saw some promising guys we grew up together sleeping while standing, some were even making some crazy postures while sleeping. So sad”.