BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
Aside from the dangers that drug abuse have on the health and wellbeing of human beings, substance misuse and illicit drug trafficking have been identified as potent propellers of organised crimes in Nigeria.
Nigeria is ranked sixth in the world for organised crime, according to the 2023 Global Organised Crime Index. The report revealed that Nigeria continues to face a series of security challenges, corruption and other criminal activities.
According to the survey done by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime, which was released recently, the status of organised crime in Nigeria increased by 0.13 points.
Similarly, a report presented at the 31st meeting of Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies, Africa, in Abuja, recently, showed that organised crime was one of the main drivers of insecurity in Nigeria, posing an acute threat to its people, economy and environment.
The report titled, “Organised Crime in Nigeria: A Threat Assessment,” produced by the National Institute for Security Studies in collaboration with security agencies and supported by the United Nations on Drugs and Crime, revealed the illegal markets in Nigeria and the structures and modus operandi of criminal groups operating in and out of the country.
It identified cultism, maritime crime, kidnapping, the manufacturing and trafficking of illicit drugs, wildlife and forestry crimes, trafficking in persons, and smuggling of migrants as parts of the organised crime bedeviling the nation.
“Nigeria’s strategic location along global shipping routes between the Americas, Europe and Asia, its large-scale transport infrastructure and its porous borders make it an attractive target for criminal organisations that use the country as a base and transit point for their operations.
“Youth unemployment and widespread multidimensional poverty provide a large pool of potential recruits for criminal organisations.
“Governance gaps combined with an abundance of natural resources often located in remote areas offer strong incentives for engaging in criminal activities. On the other hand, overburdened law enforcement and security agencies pose limited risks to the operations and profits of criminal organizations,” the report stated.
The report noted that over the last two decades, organised crime affecting Nigeria had evolved structurally, becoming both more violent and more sophisticated.
It said, “Drug markets have undergone multiple changes, with Nigeria no longer being only a transit country for cocaine and heroin but having also become a major market for drugs, in particular pharmaceutical opioids, and a producer of cannabis and methamphetamine.
“Maritime criminals, often referred to as ‘pirates’, are adapting their tactics to evade law enforcement efforts and increase their illicit profits. From robberies of ship stores and crews property to the hijacking of oil tankers, they now attack ships with the purpose of kidnapping crew members for ransom.
“Kidnapping, including both mass abductions and individual kidnapping, has become a serious driver of insecurity in Nigeria. The number of incidents doubled between 2019 and 2020, and doubled again between 2020 and 2021, with more than 400 documented incidents and 5200 victims.
“Over the span of just 10 years, Nigeria has become a hub and source for the illicit extraction and trafficking of wildlife and forestry products, in particular ivory, pangolin scales, and rosewood, mainly to Asian countries.
“Trafficking in persons stands out for the physical and psychological toll it takes on its victims, most often Nigerian women and children. Today, most victims are trafficked within Nigeria and the region for sexual exploitation, forced labour or domestic servitude. Victims of trafficking continue to be rescued in Europe and the Americas and, increasingly, the Middle East and Asia.
“Organised crime has dire consequences for the well-being of Nigerians. It fuels political instability, threatens economic activity, deters foreign and domestic investment, and diverts resources and attention away from key sectors such as education, health and infrastructure.”
“By dedicating our collective talent, energy and resources to this task, we can defeat the scourge of organised crime and give Nigeria the prosperous future it deserves,” noted A.S. Adeleke, head of the National Institute of Security Studies, while presenting the report at the launch event.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has expressed its commitment to the fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking as part of efforts to curtail the global drug problem, even as it said it would continue to provide necessary support and tools for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency to fulfil its mandate.
Vice President Kashim Shettima gave the assurances on behalf of the President while declaring open the event recently.
“For us, the commitment to the fight against drug trafficking and substance abuse is not just a matter of policy; it is a moral imperative. We recognize that a population at war with drugs is not a dividend but a liability. We believe that the future of our youth, the strength of our institutions, and the well-being of our communities depend on our ability to eradicate this threat,” Shettima said.
Meanwhile, the NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd), while citing the details of the 2023 world drug report as a challenge for Africa, said, “Young people are using more drugs than previous generations, and the majority of people being treated for drug use disorders in Africa are under the age of 35. What is worse, the availability of treatment and other services has not kept pace with these developments, and women in particular are suffering from treatment gaps.”
To tackle the menace, Marwa urged African countries to synergise and collaborate.
Some mental health advocates have, however, called on the Federal Government to prioritise the affairs of young people by creating awareness on the dangers of drug abuse, educating them and also providing them with meaningful job opportunities.
The President of Silec Initiatives, a not-for-profit organisation combating drug abuse, Sunny Irakpo, said, “We can’t afford to breed generation of drug addicts, we can’t continue to produce mentally deranged individuals because these are the youths are the demography that will contribute to this country.
“If we just tackle the issue of drug abuse, we must seek collaboration and effective partnership because the issue of drug abuse is multi-factorial. It is a multi-billion dollar industry and if we must tackle that, we don’t need to use thousand approach.
“The Federal Government and other States must prioritise affairs of the young people by creating job opportunities, ensuring that they develop the right approach such as action based model, drug replacement model and drug demand reduction approach.”
