The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its War Against Abuse (WADA) effort in 2025, with an emphasis on public awareness, prevention, and rehabilitation to address Nigeria’s growing drug misuse problem.
What is WADA?
The War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative is a comprehensive public awareness campaign dedicated to curbing drug abuse, especially among Nigerian youth. Launched on June 26, 2021, WADA combines enforcement with education and community engagement to reduce both the supply and demand of illicit drugs.
WADA represents the NDLEA’s comprehensive approach to fighting drug misuse, which combines enforcement with extensive education and social support services. Recognizing that drug concerns are about more than just arresting traffickers; they also involve preventing abuse and assisting recovery, the NDLEA has focused sensitizing communities, particularly young, who are the most susceptible.
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Public Awareness and Community Engagement
The NDLEA’s WADA program actively engages schools, religious institutions, markets, and workplaces. The purpose is to educate Nigerians about the dangers of substances including cannabis, opiates, tramadol, and codeine, which are increasingly abused.
To encourage a community-based approach, the agency collaborates closely with traditional rulers, youth leaders, parents, teachers, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). For example, the “Save Our Families” program provides parents with information and resources, such as drug-testing kits, to detect and prevent drug use at home. The sensitization programs reach millions of Nigerians through seminars, workshops, media campaigns, and social media outreach, establishing a culture of awareness and resistance to drug abuse.
What is the Essence of WADA?
WADA is NDLEA’s collaboration with Primly Services Limited to provide a free, confidential addiction helpline available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This service connects those struggling with substance misuse to licensed clinical psychologists, counselors, and mental health experts.
The helpline is available countrywide and accommodates callers in numerous Nigerian languages (English, Pidgin, Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo), enabling inclusivity. It provides counseling on relapse prevention, stress and trigger management, life skills training, and emotional regulation to help people recover and stay sober.
NDLEA’s activities include integration with government health institutions, which improves access to medical treatment and rehabilitation services for drug users in need.
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Impact and Ongoing Challenges.
Since its establishment, WADA has raised awareness among over 1.8 million Nigerians and offered counseling and assistance to thousands of people suffering from addiction.
While progress has been made, the NDLEA acknowledges persistent obstacles such as treatment stigma, a lack of rehabilitation institutions, and the increasing availability of new synthetic narcotics.
The agency continues to advocate for additional government support, policy reforms, and money to expand its prevention and treatment initiatives.
NDLEA has worked with a variety of stakeholders, including security agencies, state governments, religious organizations, and local communities.
For example, in Lagos State, the NDLEA collaborated with the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) to reduce drug misuse in transit operations, which is an important step toward combating drug-related crime in public places. This has boosted policing and community outreach, resulting in a cohesive front against drug suppliers and users.