Kemi Ewedairo-Yusuf & Adeyinka Musa-Richard

Rising from one of its meetings, held at the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) hall in Abeokuta, the Ogun state Drug Control Committee (SDCC) chaired by the Wife of the State Governor, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, unanimously agreed to adopt more strategies in ridding the state of drug abuse.

In her charge to members of the committee, comprising health professionals, educators, representatives of ministries, Non Govermental Organisations, Civil Society actors, Faith based organisations and community leaders, among others, Mrs. Abiodun, represented by Dr. Olufunke Oyeneye, commended the Contributions of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the state  as well as members of the SDCC, for their determination to stem the tide of drug abuse in the state.

She charged them on collective efforts by upping their game in the fight against the menace, developing and domesticating social advocacy programmes, visit drug rehabilitation centres, and not leaving out prayers,for them to succeed in the humanitarian task.

“ Team work, which means together everybody achieves more, should be considered so we can rid our state of drug abuse. I urge you to cash in on the use of social media to reach our youths”, the wife of the governor stated.

Speaking at the event, the State Commissioner for Sports Development, Hon. Wasiu Isiaka, while applauding the inter-agency engagement of the committee members, called for further sensitisation,  with a charge on them to sustain it with the urgency it deserves. 

He noted the huge investment the  Prince Dapo Abiodun led administration has committed into sports development, with the various renovations of sport facilities in the state, which he said had resulted in various sporting events hosted by the state, which has put the state on the international map. 

The commissioner said, “we must put a strategy in place to increase surveillance of our sports facilities in order to ensure a drug free environment for the benefit of our youth and our dear state”. 

In his welcome speech, the State NDLEA Boss, Commander of Narcotics, Tijjani Rabe represented, by his Deputy, Commander of Narcotics, Ekwu Eucheria, stated that “arrest and seizure of illicit substances within the state is a sobering reminder that the challenge remains real and urgent”.

According to him, in 2024, the state command seized 12 tonnes of cannabis sativa, arrested 687 suspects made up of 572 male and 115 female and counselled 406 drug users with 221 convictions secured. 

"In 2025, 395 suspects have been arrested, while 186 were counselled with 97 convictions secured. 8 tonnes of cannabis and various quantities of other psychotropic drugs were seized".

He revealed further that “this statistics align with the National Drug use survey in a nationwide survey conducted by the  National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), with the support of the United Nations office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) which revealed that the highest abuse of drugs is recorded in the southern geopolitical zones, with the southwest having the highest prevalence. This is worrisome”.

Members of the committee resolved to further collaborate and ensure sustainability in order to rid the state of drug abuse and trafficking.