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UNODC Raises Alarm Over Growing Global Illicit Drug Supply

Published

3 years ago

June 26, 2023

Ochuwa Ibrahim

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

News

NIMC Intensifies Ward-Level NIN Enrolment, Urges Nigerians to Register

Published

8 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

NIMC Intensifies Ward-Level NIN Enrolment, Urges Nigerians to Register

By: Michael Mike

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding Nigeria’s digital identity database as its nationwide ward-level enrolment drive for the National Identification Number (NIN) gains momentum across the federation.

The exercise, which began on February 16, 2026, is designed to bring registration services closer to the grassroots by decentralising enrolment to ward levels in all states and the Federal Capital Territory. According to the Commission, the initiative is already recording steady progress, with officials deployed to designated centres to capture new registrants.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the spokesman of the Commission, Dr. Kayode Adegoke, NIMC underscored the critical role of the NIN in accessing essential government and financial services, describing it as the backbone of Nigeria’s identity management system. The Commission stressed that possession of the NIN remains mandatory for participation in a growing number of public and private sector services.

“The ward-level enrolment is part of our strategy to ensure inclusive identity coverage and to eliminate barriers that may prevent citizens and legal residents from registering,” the Commission said.

NIMC called on Nigerians who are yet to enrol to seize the opportunity presented by the decentralised exercise by visiting designated centres within their wards. The agency advised prospective registrants to verify the nearest enrolment locations through its official website, cooperate with enrolment officers, and provide accurate and verifiable information during the process.

To curb misinformation, the Commission urged the public to rely strictly on its verified communication channels, including its website (www.nimc.gov.ng) and official social media platforms on X (@nimc_ng), Instagram (@nimc_ng), Facebook (National Identity Management Commission – NIMC), and LinkedIn.

The agency also highlighted additional digital services available to the public. Applicants can initiate pre-enrolment through the online portal at penrol.nimc.gov.ng, while individuals seeking data corrections or updates can use the self-service modification platform at selfservicemodification.nimc.gov.ng. For secure digital verification, Nigerians were encouraged to download the NIN Authentication (NINAuth) App from the iOS App Store or Google Play Store.

NIMC further provided its customer care helpline, 0800-061-6462, for inquiries and assistance.

Reaffirming its mandate, the Commission stated that it remains focused on delivering “assured identity” to all Nigerians and legal residents, noting that a comprehensive and reliable identity database is essential for national planning, security coordination, and efficient service delivery.

NIMC Intensifies Ward-Level NIN Enrolment, Urges Nigerians to Register

News

Nigeria–China Partnership Strengthens as Officials Champion Culture, Women’s Empowerment and Economic Cooperation

Published

8 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Nigeria–China Partnership Strengthens as Officials Champion Culture, Women’s Empowerment and Economic Cooperation

By: Michael Mike

Nigeria and China have reaffirmed their strategic diplomatic and cultural partnership, with top government officials, diplomats and international development partners using the 2026 Chinese New Year and Lantern Festival celebration in Abuja to call for deeper collaboration in culture, education, tourism and women’s economic empowerment.

The event, held at the China Cultural Centre brought together high-level delegates from the Federal Government of Nigeria, the diplomatic corps and cultural stakeholders from China. The celebration also marked the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between both countries, as well as global efforts to promote people-to-people diplomacy under cultural exchange platforms.

Speaking at the event, the Ambassador of China to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, described the Lantern Festival as a global symbol of unity, hope and renewal. He said the festival’s growing international recognition following its inscription on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list reflects the global relevance of Chinese culture.

The ambassador, who was represented by the Cultural Counselor of Chinese Embassy and Director, Chinese Cultural Centre in Nigeria, Yang Jianxing, emphasized that cultural diplomacy remains a strong pillar of China–Nigeria relations, noting that over five decades, both nations have deepened cooperation in trade, infrastructure development, education and technology transfer.

He stressed that cultural exchange promotes mutual understanding beyond formal diplomacy. “Civilizations are enriched by exchange and mutual learning,” he said, highlighting shared cultural values such as respect for family, community cohesion and social harmony.

On his part, the Nigeria’s Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Dr. Mukhtar Muhammad, described the celebration as a symbolic fusion of two great civilizations and a platform for advancing gender-inclusive development.

Muhammad emphasized that combining the Women’s Carnival with the Lantern Festival was intentional, reflecting the strategic role of women in shaping cultural identity and economic progress.

He noted that women in both Nigeria and China continue to drive innovation, preserve cultural heritage and contribute significantly to national development.

“As lanterns light up the night sky, our women light the path to social and economic progress,” he said, pledging that the Federal Government would continue implementing policies aimed at expanding opportunities for women in the creative and digital economy.

He added that Nigeria would work toward improving women’s visibility in global cultural and economic spaces through stronger tourism promotion, creative industry investment and international cultural collaborations.

Representatives of the UNESCO Office in Nigeria, Dr. Jean-Paul Ngome Abiaga,

also spoke at the event, describing culture and education as powerful tools for sustainable development and international cooperation.

He emphasized that the celebration’s timing — coming just days before International Women’s Day — reinforced global commitments to gender equality.

He commended progress made in women’s empowerment in both countries, highlighting China’s achievements in expanding women’s access to higher education, entrepreneurship and technology-driven industries, noting that women now represent a significant share of university enrolment and workforce participation in China.

In Nigeria, UNESCO praised ongoing initiatives such as national women empowerment programmes and advocacy campaigns promoting girls’ education and economic inclusion. The organization reiterated that investing in women’s education and skills development remains essential to achieving long-term economic stability and social progress.

Speakers at the celebration urged both nations to translate cultural goodwill into stronger economic partnerships. They highlighted opportunities in tourism development, creative economy expansion, digital skills training and youth entrepreneurship.

Officials said cultural exchange programmes have already contributed to growing mutual appreciation of music, film, fashion and culinary traditions between both societies.

Participants noted that Nigerian and Chinese women are increasingly participating in cross-border cooperation projects, with many contributing to business, technology and community development initiatives in both countries.

Nigeria–China Partnership Strengthens as Officials Champion Culture, Women’s Empowerment and Economic Cooperation

News

Gombe, UNICEF move to combat nutrition commodity theft

Published

9 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Gombe, UNICEF move to combat nutrition commodity theft

The Gombe State government in collaboration with UNICEF, has inaugurated a taskforce to tackle misuse, abuse, and theft of nutrition commodities aimed at addressing malnutrition in the state.

Speaking at the inauguration on Tuesday, Deputy Governor Mr Manassah Jatau, urged taskforce members to adhere strictly to their terms of reference, stressing the importance of safeguarding the health of the population.

He explained that the taskforce’s mandate included identifying, monitoring, and sanctioning anyone diverting, hoarding, destroying, or misusing nutrition commodities intended for malnourished children and other vulnerable groups.

Jatau noted that malnutrition remained a major challenge in northern Nigeria, particularly the North West and North East zones, emphasising that protecting nutrition supplies ensured better returns on government and partner investments.

He outlined the taskforce’s responsibilities, including monthly monitoring of health facilities and storage sites, investigating diversion cases, recommending sanctions, and developing guidelines for transparency and accountability in handling nutrition commodities.

Dr Nuzhat Rafique, Chief of UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, expressed concern over the diversion of life-saving nutrition commodities to the market, depriving malnourished children of critical protection and care.

She highlighted that nutrition supplies were essential for children suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and warned that the number of chronically malnourished children was increasing in the state.

Rafique urged the taskforce to diligently prevent diversion or abuse of all nutrition and medical supplies, ensuring aid reached the children who needed it most.

Chairman of the taskforce, Mr Salisu Baba-Alkali, Commissioner of Budget and Economic Planning, assured that the committee would deliver on its mandate, reflecting the government’s strong political will and commitment.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the taskforce underscores Gombe State’s institutional effort to protect life-saving nutrition commodities from misuse, diversion, and theft across health facilities and storage centres.

The initiative is aimed at ensuring that the supplies reach malnourished children and other vulnerable populations as intended by the government and its development partners.

Gombe, UNICEF move to combat nutrition commodity theft