Nigeria launches National Drug Control Master Plan on International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

PRESS RELEASE

The 26th of June every year is celebrated globally as the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. This year, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is leading a global campaign titled, “Let’s develop our lives, our communities, our identities without drugs.” The campaign aims to raise awareness about the challengesposed by illicit drugs to the health and welfare of humankind.

In Nigeria, the fight against drug abuse and trafficking has continued to record important milestones under the leadership of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)and the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Drug Control (IMCDC). One of such milestones is the formulation of a multi-sectoral five-year National Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP) 2015-2019. The NDCMP was formulatedthrough a participatory and nationwide consultative process supported by the European Union funded project, Response to Drugs and Related Organized Crime in Nigeria,implemented by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The Master Plan was signed by the former President of Nigeria, Dr.Goodluck Jonathan, on 22 May 2015.

One of the activities to mark this year’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Nigeria is the official launch of the NDCMPby the Chairman of NDLEA, AlhajiAhmaduGiade, at an event holding on Friday, 26 June 2015 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

The NDCMP provides an integrated and comprehensive roadmap for multi-sectoral interventions to address a wide array of drug related issues in Nigeria, in line with international drug control conventions. It outlines activities that will help reduce the incidences of illicit cultivation, production, use, and trafficking of narcotic substances under four main pillars. These pillars include law enforcement, drug demand reduction, access and control of narcotics and psychotropic substances for medical and scientific purposes, and coordination.

The launch of the NDCMP will officially signify the commencement of its implementation by the relevant stakeholders including ministries departments and agencies of government, faith-based organizations, educational and professional institutions, and civil society organizations. UNODC is currently supporting the IMCDC to develop an operational plan and a monitoring and evaluation framework that will facilitate implementation of the Master Plan.

UNODC is a global leader in the fight against illicit drug production, trafficking and use. It has a mandate to assist Member States in addressing challenges with development, security, and governance posed by illicit drugs, crime, terrorism, and corruption. UNODC is implementing a number of projects in different countries, which aim to develop national response to drug control issues. Response to Drugs and Related Organized Crime in Nigeria is a €34.5 million European Union funded project to support Nigeria’s efforts in fighting illicit drug production, trafficking and use, and in curbing related organized crime, including counterfeit narcotics and psychotropic substances..