The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is strengthening its focus on drug prevention, treatment and rehabilitation through a strategic partnership with the International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP) Nigeria.
The NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd.), said the partnership would support a broader, whole-of-society approach to tackling substance abuse in Nigeria.
Marwa spoke in Abuja during a meeting with the leadership of ISSUP Nigeria, recalling his first encounter with the organisation in 2018 while chairing the Presidential Advisory Committee on the National Drug Control Master Plan.
He said ISSUP made a significant contribution to the committee’s recommendations and commended the organisation for its work in addressing substance abuse.
According to Marwa, while the NDLEA remains committed to arrests, drug seizures, prosecution and asset forfeiture, drug demand reduction, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation are now receiving greater attention.
He said preventing millions of Nigerians from becoming involved in drug abuse and helping those already affected to recover present some of the biggest challenges in the country’s drug control efforts.
“The drug problem continues to be a challenge that needs a whole-of-society approach. The NDLEA alone cannot solve the drug problem in the country,” Marwa said.
NDLEA Targets Tertiary Institutions
Marwa identified capacity building and drug prevention in tertiary institutions as key areas for collaboration with ISSUP.
He noted that Nigeria has more than 600 tertiary institutions and said many of them already have counselling structures that could be strengthened to address substance abuse among students.
The NDLEA chairman disclosed that he had approved a training programme for the agency’s counsellors, adding that ISSUP members could participate as trainers and resource persons.
He also said the agency assesses some individuals arrested for drug offences to determine, based on established parameters, whether they should be prosecuted or referred for treatment.
Marwa further expressed interest in ISSUP’s proposed technology-driven interventions, including an artificial intelligence-powered screening platform and a toll-free support line.
He said a Joint Technical Working Group would also be established to bring experts from both organisations together to develop practical solutions to substance abuse.
ISSUP Unveils AI-Powered VibeCheck
Earlier, ISSUP Nigeria President, Dr. Olajumoke Koyejo, said the organisation was seeking a practical partnership with the NDLEA in drug demand reduction, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, recovery, research and professional development.
Koyejo said ISSUP Nigeria has more than 800 addiction professionals, including psychiatrists, psychologists, mental health nurses, addiction counsellors, peer educators and researchers, who are ready to support the NDLEA.
A major highlight of the meeting was the presentation of VibeCheck, an artificial intelligence-powered Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment platform developed by ISSUP Nigeria in collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Satellite Agency, NIGCOMSAT.
Koyejo said VibeCheck, officially unveiled on March 12, 2026, is free, anonymous, confidential and evidence-based.
According to her, the platform uses World Health Organisation-validated assessment tools, including the ASSIST screening tool, while also providing screening for gambling, mental health concerns and drug-use triggers.
She said users can undertake an initial screening through the platform and be connected to appropriate treatment and counselling professionals.
All NDLEA counselling and treatment centres have also been integrated into the VibeCheck referral system.
‘Our Goal Is to Reach Every School’
Koyejo said youth outreach would be a major component of the ISSUP-NDLEA partnership, with the organisation aiming to take practical drug prevention programmes to schools and tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
She stressed that the partnership must go beyond agreements and produce practical interventions capable of reaching young people and communities.
Koyejo said ISSUP could also help the NDLEA reach populations that may be reluctant to engage directly with uniformed personnel.
“There are communities and environments where people may be hesitant to engage with uniformed personnel, but they will freely engage with us. Those are the places where we want NDLEA to send us,” she said.
She also called for joint training and continuous professional development for personnel of both organisations, stressing the importance of specialised knowledge in addiction prevention and treatment.
Joint Technical Working Group Planned
ISSUP proposed the establishment of a Joint Technical Working Group to bring experts from both organisations together to develop evidence-based, ethical and culturally appropriate responses to substance abuse.
The organisation also called for stronger collaboration in research, youth engagement, social media advocacy and professional knowledge sharing.
Koyejo said ISSUP’s previous global webinar attracted 512 participants from 86 countries and expressed interest in showcasing Nigeria’s drug demand reduction efforts and the NDLEA’s experiences to an international audience.
She further proposed collaboration on the NDLEA’s toll-free support line, saying ISSUP professionals could help strengthen counselling, referrals and access to treatment.
The meeting underscores a growing shift in Nigeria’s response to substance abuse — from an approach centred largely on enforcement to a more balanced strategy that places equal emphasis on prevention, early intervention, treatment, rehabilitation, recovery and technology.
Marwa welcomed the partnership, while Koyejo pledged the support of ISSUP Nigeria’s more than 800 professionals to the national effort against substance abuse.