Nigeria’s Drug Agency Links Substance Abuse to HIV Spread, Calls for Integrated Response
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has declared drug abuse a primary driver of HIV transmission in Nigeria, urging a unified strategy that merges drug control with public health efforts to curb new infections.
The call was made by NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, during the launch of Nigeria’s National HIV Prevention Plan 2026–2030 in Abuja on Wednesday. Marwa stressed that HIV prevention efforts cannot be separated from addressing substance abuse, particularly the use of injectable drugs, which significantly increases infection risk through needle sharing.
He explained that substance abuse also impairs judgment, leading to risky sexual behaviours that further accelerate the virus’s spread. Correctional facilities were highlighted as high-risk environments where addiction and limited prevention services create a cycle of increased vulnerability and infection.
“For too long, drug control and public health responses have been treated separately,” Marwa stated. “Today, we recognise that they are interconnected and must be addressed together.” He noted that while the NDLEA remains committed to disrupting drug supply chains, it is equally prioritising drug demand reduction and harm reduction strategies as part of a broader public health mandate.
The agency will collaborate with the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), the Federal Ministry of Health, and civil society organisations to scale up HIV prevention education nationwide. Leveraging its extensive grassroots presence, the NDLEA aims to promote awareness among young people, reinforcing that the fight against drug abuse is inseparable from the fight against HIV.
The initiative received endorsements from key stakeholders. Brig.-Gen. Idris Solebo, Director-General of the Defence Health Implementation Programme (MODHIP), commended NACA’s leadership in advancing evidence-based HIV policies and expanding treatment access. He highlighted the critical partnership between NACA and military health institutions, which ensures comprehensive HIV services for armed forces personnel, their families, and surrounding communities, thereby supporting operational readiness.
Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA)—represented by Dr. Olufemi Ayoola—emphasised that community awareness and education are central to sustaining national gains and interrupting the last mile of HIV transmission. He affirmed NOA’s commitment to empowering communities to prevent new infections under the new national plan.
The coordinated push signals a significant policy shift towards an integrated national response, aligning drug enforcement with HIV prevention to protect public health and achieve Nigeria’s 2030 targets.
