NDLEA Opens 24-Hour Lifeline as Nigeria Steps Up Fight Against Drug Abuse

(NDLEA. Photo by Vanguard News)

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has urged Nigerians battling drug dependence to seek help through its 24-hour counselling and referral service, assuring that professional support is available round the clock for persons struggling with drug use disorders.

The agency’s Secretary, Shadrach Haruna, gave the assurance in an interview on Monday in Abuja to commemorate the 2026 United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

Haruna disclosed that the agency’s helpline, 0800-1020-3040, also known as the 247-Network, was established to ensure timely access to professional assistance for individuals and families affected by drug dependence.

He said trained social psychologists were available at all times to provide counselling and refer callers to appropriate treatment and rehabilitation centres closest to them, adding that responses were available in multiple languages including Pidgin English, Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, and formal English.

He also urged families and friends of persons battling addiction to reach out to the agency, stressing that recovery was possible with the right support and intervention.

Haruna said the agency had adopted innovative approaches in tackling drug abuse and illicit trafficking, including partnerships with faith-based organisations to strengthen prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation efforts.

He described churches and other religious bodies as critical stakeholders in the campaign against drug abuse due to their influence on families and communities, noting that they contributed significantly through counselling, moral teachings, and family-focused interventions.

He reaffirmed NDLEA’s commitment to expanding access to treatment and recovery services while strengthening collaboration with faith-based organisations and other partners in the broader fight against drug abuse and illicit trafficking, and called on Nigerians, religious leaders, families, and community stakeholders to support efforts aimed at reducing drug demand and helping individuals recover from addiction.