NDLEA urges Nigerians struggling with drug dependence to seek help from us.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has called on Nigerians who are struggling with drug dependence to use its 24‑hour counselling and referral service.

NDLEA Secretary Shadrach Haruna made the appeal during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja, in observance of the 2026 United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

He confirmed that professional support is available around the clock for people dealing with drug use disorders.

“We also urge families and friends of persons battling addiction to seek help from NDLEA, stressing that recovery is possible with the right support and intervention,” Haruna said.

“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 added.

“If you know anyone who is suffering from drug use disorder, NDLEA is there to support,” Haruna continued.

“Anyone who calls the number will receive an instant response in whatever language they speak, whether Pidgin English, Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo or formal English,” he said.

Haruna explained that trained social psychologists are available 24/7 to provide counselling and refer callers to the nearest suitable treatment and rehabilitation centres.

He said treatment and rehabilitation remain essential pillars of NDLEA’s balanced approach to drug control, alongside enforcement, prevention and public enlightenment.

Haruna also highlighted the agency’s adoption of innovative strategies to tackle drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

Among these is partnership with faith‑based organisations to strengthen prevention, treatment and rehabilitation efforts.

“Churches and other religious organisations have become critical stakeholders in the campaign against drug abuse due to their influence on families and communities,” he said.

“We involve and use a lot of innovative responses, and one of those responses is to use faith‑based organisations, which of course include churches,” Haruna noted.

He added that, beyond reporting drug‑related activities, faith‑based organisations contribute significantly through counselling, moral teachings and family‑focused interventions.

He described families as the fulcrum of social development, adding that churches provide a strategic platform for reaching homes and communities with anti‑drug messages.

According to him, NDLEA is leveraging the influence of religious organisations to connect with other faith communities and take drug‑abuse prevention campaigns to the grassroots.

Haruna reiterated the agency’s commitment to supporting individuals suffering from drug use disorders through counselling, treatment and rehabilitation services.

He called on Nigerians, religious leaders, families and community stakeholders to support efforts aimed at reducing drug demand and helping individuals recover from addiction.

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 fight against drug abuse and illicit trafficking. (NAN)