The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Edo State Command, has identified the rising cultivation of cannabis in forest areas and the increasing involvement of schoolchildren in illicit drug activities as major challenges in the fight against drug abuse and trafficking.
The Edo State Commander of the agency, Dr Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed this on Thursday, August 6, 2026, when the leadership of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) visited the command headquarters in Benin City.
Ofoyeju said the expansion of cannabis cultivation was contributing to environmental degradation while criminal networks were exploiting farmers involved in the illicit trade. He also raised concern over the growing recruitment of schoolchildren into drug-related activities.
“The fight against drug abuse is a collective responsibility that no single agency can win alone,” Ofoyeju said, calling for stronger collaboration among relevant stakeholders.
He said substance abuse had devastating consequences for individuals, families and national development, stressing that drug addiction requires coordinated prevention, treatment and rehabilitation efforts.
Ofoyeju described the visit by the pharmacists’ groups as an important step towards strengthening the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to working with professional bodies and other stakeholders.
The PSN Edo State Chairman, Dr Chris Oisakede, commended the NDLEA’s efforts, particularly its approach combining supply reduction, demand reduction and public enlightenment. He pledged continued support from community pharmacists, who he said have regular contact with members of the public.
The ACPN chairman, Dr Nwachukwu Memili, highlighted the role of community pharmacists in promoting ethical drug distribution and announced plans for a free medical outreach for NDLEA officers and personnel.
Other stakeholders, including Dr Grace O. Ogieva, MD/CEO of VJ Essex Pharmacy and a former PSN chairman, called for wider sensitisation campaigns involving pharmaceutical companies, transport unions, religious organisations and community groups to strengthen efforts against illicit drug use and trafficking.
