Brigadier General Babatunde Omopariola, Commander of the 17 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Katsina, has sounded the alarm over the rising impact of drug addiction on Nigeria’s workforce, calling it a major threat to the country’s future.
Speaking in Katsina on Saturday at the 2025 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL), held at the brigade’s officers’ mess, the commander urged personnel to report any soldier found smoking weed, warning that drug use would not be tolerated within the barracks.
Omopariola described drug abuse as a destructive force weakening both the social and medical foundations of the nation.
“We must be ready to take decisive action against anyone found guilty if we truly want a drug-free society,” he said.
He encouraged parents and guardians to take early action in their children’s lives, noting that drug habits often begin at a young age.
Addressing a common misconception, he stated: “You don’t need to smoke weed to perform. Are we not fearless? Are we not bold?”
Omopariola stressed that eliminating drug abuse is essential for improving national productivity, strengthening public health, and promoting social stability.
The guest lecturer at the event, a senior official of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Zainab Ibrahim linked the rise in insecurity to widespread drug use.
“There is no terrorism, no banditry, no prostitution, no ritual killings that does not have drug abuse at its root,” she said.
Ibrahim dismissed the argument that unemployment drives drug addiction. “There are unemployed people living decent, drug-free lives. Joblessness is not an excuse to do drugs,” she added.
She also warned of the dangers posed by both legal and illegal substances, explaining that mood-altering substances like kola nuts, tea, and coffee can also qualify as drugs when misused.
Highlighting the ongoing misuse of over-the-counter medications, she revealed that many Nigerians still access controlled drugs such as Rohypnol and Pentazocine illegally.
The NDLEA official urged a shift in public perception, stating that drug abuse should be treated not only as a criminal issue but as a pressing public health crisis.
“We must raise a national consciousness,” she said. “It demands a collaborative effort from government, civil society, families, and individuals.”
