By Correspondent in Lagos.
The Apapa Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 14 containers loaded with various psychotropic substances in the past year, significantly disrupting the distribution network of illicit drugs in Nigeria.
The Assistant Commander General of Narcotics (ACGN), Buba Wakawa, disclosed this during a joint grand finale event organized by the Apapa and Tin Can Island Strategic Seaport Commands of the NDLEA.
The event marked the 2025 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, themed “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention. Break the Cycle.”
Wakawa revealed that among the seizures were 744,635 bottles of codeine-based cough syrups and 36,652,460 tablets of Tramadol, with a combined gross weight of 131,920.7 kilograms.
“These substances, originally intended for medical use, have been abused for recreational purposes,” Wakawa said. “We must break this cycle, and together, we can.”
He emphasized the need to secure maritime trade routes, which are often exploited by drug traffickers, warning that such criminal activities threaten national health and security.
“Our common enemy is the drug trafficker—an agent of insecurity and national decay. We must not allow our ports to become havens for these dangerous operations,” he added.
According to Wakawa, the 2018 UN Drugs Survey showed that 14.3 million Nigerians aged 15 to 64 had used drugs in the previous year, highlighting the scale of the problem and the need for urgent, strategic intervention.
In a related presentation, Dr. Omotayo Ajirotutu, a medical psychologist from the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, warned that treating drug addiction in private or government facilities could cost between ₦800,000 to ₦1.5 million per month, making prevention critical.
He urged parents to be more observant and proactive in monitoring their children’s behavior, stressing the importance of moral education at home and academic instruction in schools.
Also speaking, Mr. Callys Alumona of the Tin Can Island Strategic Port Command reported that over the past year, his command had mopped up over 30 tonnes of illicit drugs, including Tramadol and cocaine, with the help of international partners like the British Border Force.
“These drugs often originate from multiple countries, and without timely intelligence, interception would be impossible,” Alumona said, pledging continued vigilance.
Delivering a goodwill message, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, Customs Area Controller of Apapa Command (represented by Deputy Comptroller H.A. Eromobor), reaffirmed the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to zero tolerance for drug smuggling. He called on citizens to support government efforts to deter economic saboteurs and protect public health.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
