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UNODC Raises Alarm Over Growing Global Illicit Drug Supply
UNODC Raises Alarm Over Growing Global Illicit Drug Supply
By: Michael Mike
Growing illicit drug supply and increasingly agile trafficking networks are compounding intersecting global crises and challenging health services and law enforcement responses, according to the World Drug Report 2023 launched by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on Monday.
New data put the global estimate of people who inject drugs in 2021 at 13.2 million, 18 per cent higher than previously estimated. Globally, over 296 million people used drugs in 2021, an increase of 23 per cent over the previous decade. The number of people who suffer from drug use disorders, meanwhile, has skyrocketed to 39.5 million, a 45 per cent increase over 10 years.
The Report features a special chapter on drug trafficking and crimes that affect the environment in the Amazon Basin, as well as sections on clinical trials involving psychedelics and medical use of cannabis; drug use in humanitarian settings; innovations in drug treatment and other services; and drugs and conflict.
The World Drug Report 2023 also highlighted how social and economic inequalities drive – and are driven by – drug challenges; the environmental devastation and human rights abuses caused by illicit drug economies; and the rising dominance of synthetic drugs.
The report showed that demand for treating drug-related disorders remains largely unmet with only one in five people suffering from drug-related disorders were in treatment for drug use in 2021, with widening disparities in access to treatment across regions.
Youth populations are the most vulnerable to using drugs and are also more severely affected by substance use disorder in several regions. In Africa, 70 per cent of people in treatment are under the age of 35.
The report argued that public health, prevention, and access to treatment services must be prioritized worldwide, or drug challenges will leave more people behind. It further underscored the need for law enforcement responses to keep pace with agile criminal business models and the proliferation of cheap synthetic drugs that are easy to bring to market.
Reacting to the findings of the report, UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly said: “We are witnessing a continued rise in the number of people suffering from drug use disorders worldwide, while treatment is failing to reach all of those who need it. Meanwhile, we need to step up responses against drug trafficking rings that are exploiting conflicts and global crises to expand illicit drug cultivation and production, especially of synthetic drugs, fueling illicit markets and causing greater harm to people and communities.”
According to the report, the right to health is not granted to many people who use drugs; large inequalities in access and availability of controlled drugs for medical use persist, particularly for pain management; the disparity is particularly prevalent between the global North and South and across urban and rural areas, making some people feel the negative impact of drugs more than others.
Some 86 per cent of the world’s population live in countries with too little access to pharmaceutical opioids (as controlled under the 1961 Single Convention) – mainly low and middle-income countries; some impoverished and vulnerable populations, such as those in the tri-border area between Brazil, Colombia, and Peru, are trapped in rural areas with a high prevalence of drug-related crimes, with their remote locations make it exceedingly difficult for them to benefit from treatment services, resources, or the rule of law.
The report explained that the drug economy in the Amazon Basin is exacerbating additional criminal activities – such as illegal logging, illegal mining, illegal land occupation, wildlife trafficking and more – damaging the environment of the world’s largest rainforest. Indigenous peoples and other minorities are suffering the consequences of this crime convergence, including displacement, mercury poisoning, and exposure to violence, among others; environmental defenders are sometimes specifically targeted by traffickers and armed groups.
It stated that while the war in Ukraine has displaced traditional cocaine and heroin routes, there are signs that the conflict could trigger an expansion of the manufacture and trafficking of synthetic drugs, given the existing know-how and the large markets for synthetic drugs developing in the region: in the Sahel, the illicit drug trade finances non-state armed and insurgency groups, while in Haiti, drug traffickers take advantage of porous borders to bolster their businesses, fueling the country’s multiplying crises.
The report said while new research on the use of controlled drugs such as psychedelics to treat mental health conditions and substance use disorders shows promise, it however cautioned that the fast pace of developments could jeopardize efforts to enact policies that place public health concerns over commercial interests; without well-designed, adequately researched frameworks in place, there may be too little access for those who need treatment – potentially causing patients to turn to illegal markets – or conversely, the psychedelics may be diverted for non-medical use.
The report said the cheap, easy, and fast production of synthetic drugs has radically transformed many illicit drug markets; criminals producing methamphetamine – the world’s dominant illegally manufactured synthetic drug – are attempting to evade law enforcement and regulatory responses through new synthesis routes, bases of operation, and non-controlled precursors.
It raised the alarm that fentanyl has drastically altered the opioid market in North America with dire consequences, noting that in 2021, the majority of the approximately 90,000 opioid related overdose deaths in North America involved illegally manufactured fentanyls.
It was however said drug ban in Afghanistan may have reversed upward opium production trend; the 2023 opium harvest in Afghanistan may see a drastic drop following the national drug ban, as early reports suggest reductions in poppy cultivation, stressing that the benefits of a possible significant reduction in illicit opium cultivation in Afghanistan in 2023 would be global, but it will be at the expense of many farmers in the country who do not have alternative means of income generation.
It added that Afghanistan is also a major producer of methamphetamines in the region, and the drop in opiate cultivation could drive a shift towards synthetic drug manufacture, where different actors will benefit.
UNODC Raises Alarm Over Growing Global Illicit Drug Supply
Nigeria: MSF/Borno Govt. Vaccinates 350,000 Children Against Diphtheria in Maiduguri
By: Our Reporter
The humanitarian medical organization Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and the Borno State Ministry of Health have successfully completed a vaccination campaign against diphtheria targeting children up to 14 years old in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC), Borno State, northeast Nigeria.
The campaign began with a first round from 9 to 15 February 2026, which reached 490,000 children, far exceeding the initial target of 387,000. A second round was conducted from 9 to 15 April 2026, targeting 360,000 children reached during the first round to strengthen immunity. Despite the high number of children reached, limited vaccine availability constrained the scale of response.
Nigeria is grappling with one of its most severe diphtheria epidemics in history, with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reporting 65,759 suspected cases and 2,229 deaths as of 22 March 2026 since May 2022 and officially declaring an outbreak in 2023. In Borno State, one of the most affected areas, MSF has treated more than 7,400 suspected cases since 2023, with 4,200 treated in the past year alone. Furthermore, MSF is treating thousands of people suspected or confirmed to have diphtheria across the country, in close collaboration with state Ministries of Health, and currently supports activities in Bauchi, Borno, Kano, and Sokoto states.
Diphtheria is an acute infectious disease that spreads primarily through respiratory droplets or contact with infected wounds. Symptoms include a sore throat, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and a thick grey membrane in the throat that can obstruct breathing. In severe cases, the bacterial toxin can damage the heart, nerves, and kidneys, potentially leading to complications such as paralysis. For unvaccinated persons without proper treatment, diphtheria can be fatal in around 30% of cases, with young children at higher risk of dying.
MSF supported the Borno State Ministry of Health to run the vaccination campaign, providing comprehensive logistical support including vaccine storage, transportation, and remuneration for vaccination teams; health promotion and awareness activities; and program supervision. The Ministry of Health provided the vaccines used in the campaign. This collaborative effort ensured high coverage, with communities responding enthusiastically to outreach efforts across both rounds.
“This vaccination will help to significantly boost immunity levels of children below 14 years old in Maiduguri, the area responsible for most of the diphtheria cases we saw in our treatment center. This proactive step is essential to controlling and preventing the disease,” said MSF emergency coordinator for the project, Nao Muramoto.
In addition, MSF supported the diphtheria treatment unit (DTU) at Maiduguri Teaching and Training Hospital in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. The DTU saw a surge in suspected cases during the campaign, reflecting heightened awareness and improved referrals by community health workers during the vaccination efforts.
“Sustained routine immunization against diphtheria, improved access in volatile areas, and tackling vaccine hesitancy remain essential to prevent future surges of vaccine-preventable diseases like diphtheria. “Access to more vaccines is needed, as efforts to reach the children of Borno State should remain a priority to avoid further contaminations, to cut the transmissions, and to save lives,” concludes Nao Muramoto.
Beyond its support to diphtheria treatment and vaccination, MSF also supports the Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC) in Maiduguri, a 60-bed referral maternity and obstetric emergencies hospital with an intensive care unit (ICU) and neonatal ICU, and the Shuwari Primary Healthcare Centre and the Nilefa Kiji nutrition hospital, where our teams treat children under five suffering from severe and moderate acute malnutrition with medical complications.
Nigeria: MSF/Borno Govt. Vaccinates 350,000 Children Against Diphtheria in Maiduguri
Fiscal Storm: ActionAid Slams ₦34trn Revenue Deductions, Calls for Transparency
By: Michael Mike
ActionAid Nigeria has called for an urgent forensic audit of Nigeria’s revenue management system following revelations that more than ₦34 trillion was deducted from federal earnings before allocation to the three tiers of government.
The organisation said the scale of the deductions—accounting for over 40 per cent of federal revenue in recent years—points to systemic weaknesses in public financial management and poses a serious threat to fiscal stability and development financing.
In a statement issued on Thursday, ActionAid said findings by the World Bank confirmed that a significant portion of government income is being absorbed through pre-distribution charges, including cost-of-collection frameworks and agency remittances, with limited transparency on their composition and utilisation.
“These findings reinforce long-standing concerns about Nigeria’s widening fiscal constraints and rising debt burden,” the group said. “The persistence of large-scale revenue leakages represents both a governance failure and a missed opportunity to strengthen fiscal stability.”
According to the organisation, the deductions—estimated at more than ₦34 trillion—have continued to rise alongside government revenues, leaving federal, state, and local governments with significantly reduced resources to fund public services.
ActionAid warned that the trend is worsening Nigeria’s reliance on borrowing, citing projections by the International Monetary Fund that the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio could climb to 33.1 per cent by 2027.
“The widening gap between gross revenue and distributable income is constraining development financing and increasing dependence on debt,” the statement added.
The group expressed particular concern over what it described as “opaque and fragmented” revenue channels, noting that substantial portions of national income pass through multiple layers before reaching the Federation Account.
It said the lack of public disclosure around these deductions—including their justification, structure, and end-use—raises critical accountability questions.
“There is limited transparency on how these funds are managed,” the organisation stated. “This opacity weakens fiscal oversight and undermines public trust in governance.”
ActionAid also pointed to broader implications for national development, warning that reduced public revenue is limiting government capacity to invest in essential sectors such as healthcare, education, security, and social protection.
The Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Andrew Mamedu, said the consequences are already being felt by millions of Nigerians.
“For citizens grappling with rising inflation, declining purchasing power, and economic hardship, the continued reduction in available public resources means fewer investments in essential services,” he said.
He added that weakening fiscal capacity is also exacerbating insecurity, as economic pressures fuel crime, displacement, and social instability.
“At a time when livelihoods are becoming more fragile, the erosion of public revenue further limits the government’s ability to respond effectively to these challenges,” Mamedu said.
The organisation further criticised the lack of transparency surrounding major public expenditures, citing concerns over projects such as the Nigeria Revenue Service building, where cost details and procurement processes have not been publicly disclosed.
“Citizens have a right to know how public funds are utilised,” the group said, stressing that accountability must extend beyond revenue collection to expenditure.
ActionAid warned that without urgent reforms, Nigeria risks entrenching a system where public resources are consistently depleted before they can deliver meaningful impact.
“The continued expansion of unchecked deductions poses a direct threat to equitable development, fiscal stability, and public trust,” it said.
To address the issue, the organisation called on the Federal Government to undertake a comprehensive and transparent review of all revenue deduction frameworks, with a view to ensuring accountability and efficiency.
It also demanded the immediate publication of detailed breakdowns of all deductions, strengthened independent oversight of revenue-generating agencies, and reforms to eliminate systemic leakages.
In addition, ActionAid urged the National Assembly to intensify its oversight role through public hearings and scrutiny of deduction structures, while calling on state governments, civil society, and the media to increase pressure for transparency.
“An independent forensic audit of all deduction mechanisms is critical to restoring public confidence,” the organisation said.
ActionAid added that Nigeria’s development trajectory depends not only on revenue generation but on how effectively public resources are managed and deployed.
“This is not just a fiscal issue; it is a matter of justice,” Mamedu said. “Every naira that fails to reach essential services denies Nigerians access to healthcare, education, and dignity.”
Fiscal Storm: ActionAid Slams ₦34trn Revenue Deductions, Calls for Transparency
Troops rescue two kidnapped victims in Benue
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sector 1 under Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have rescued two kidnapped victims in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.
Security sources said the incident occurred at about 3:50 a.m. on April 15 when troops deployed at Kyado responded to a distress call on kidnapping activities in the area.
According to the sources, the troops swiftly moved to the scene, prompting the kidnappers to abandon their victims and flee.
The sources added that the troops successfully rescued the two victims and reunited them with their families.
Security operations have been intensified in the area to track down the fleeing suspects and prevent further incidents.
Troops rescue two kidnapped victims in Benue
Nigeria: MSF/Borno Govt. Vaccinates 350,000 Children Against Diphtheria in Maiduguri
Fiscal Storm: ActionAid Slams ₦34trn Revenue Deductions, Calls for Transparency
Troops rescue two kidnapped victims in Benue
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