WHO Applauds Nigeria’s Summit to Balance Drug Misuse Control and Medical Access

Nigeria has stepped up efforts to curb the misuse of controlled substances while safeguarding essential medicines for pain relief, mental health care and palliative treatment, the World Health Organization announced after the National Drug Use Summit. The summit brought together government officials, security agencies, civil society groups, healthcare professionals and development partners to accelerate implementation of Nigeria’s National Drug Control Master Plan. Delegates focused on protecting young people from rising misuse of tramadol, codeine syrup and prescription sedatives. WHO provided technical guidance to help policymakers balance preventing drug diversion with maintaining safe access to legally prescribed medicines. Participants endorsed a communique to strengthen the plan’s pillars of prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and international collaboration. In recent years, Nigeria has also expanded enforcement measures, public education campaigns and treatment services to tackle both illicit drug trafficking and the abuse of controlled medicines.

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