Lagos pushes coordinated action on drug abuse

The Lagos State Government has intensified efforts to address rising cases of drug and substance abuse, calling for a coordinated, multi-sector response anchored on early intervention and prevention.

At a stakeholder engagement convened by the Lagos State Kicks Against Drug Abuse unit under the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, officials and participants stressed the need for a unified strategy to confront what they described as an escalating social and public health concern.

The forum, themed “Empowering Stakeholders to Break the Cycle of Substance Abuse,” held in Ikeja, brought together social workers, educators, community leaders, security agencies and youth representatives to develop practical, community-based responses.

Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, described substance abuse as a crisis with far-reaching implications.

“What we are witnessing goes beyond a health concern. It is a social challenge with deep consequences for our collective future,” he said.

Ogunlende noted that the prevalence of substance abuse in schools and communities poses “a serious threat to the state’s social fabric and long-term development,” insisting that “no single institution can effectively tackle the menace alone.”

He urged school counsellors, religious bodies, community leaders, security agencies and youth advocates to take on active roles in “prevention, early detection and rehabilitation.”

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Toyin Oke-Osanyintolu, highlighted the broad impact of substance abuse across key sectors.

“This engagement is both necessary and purposeful. The impact of drug abuse across our communities continues to demand closer attention and a more coordinated response,” she said.

She emphasised that fragmented interventions yielded limited results, calling for “deliberate, sustained and well-coordinated efforts across sectors.”

According to her, the initiative was designed to “align existing programmes, deepen collaboration and explore practical strategies” focused on prevention, early identification of risk factors and improved access to support services.

Oke-Osanyintolu identified key pillars of the state’s approach to include “intensified awareness campaigns, strengthened education efforts, enhanced counselling services and broader community engagement.”

She further urged stakeholders to prioritise implementation, noting that “addressing substance abuse is a shared responsibility that demands consistency, coordination and commitment from all stakeholders.”

Participants expressed optimism that a sustained, collaborative framework would strengthen prevention mechanisms and reduce the incidence of substance abuse across the state.

The engagement forms part of broader efforts by the Lagos State Government to address social challenges affecting youth development and promote safer, healthier communities through responsive and inclusive policy measures.