News
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
Obasanjo Unveils Bold Blueprint for Africa’s Security Overhaul, Warns Against New Scramble
By: Michael Mike
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has issued a sweeping and urgent call for a radical overhaul of Africa’s security architecture, warning that the continent risks deeper instability and renewed external domination unless it urgently redefines its approach to security, governance, and intelligence.
Speaking at the third Mashariki Cooperation Conference III (MCC III), Obasanjo challenged Africa’s intelligence chiefs and security leaders to abandon outdated frameworks and embrace a people-focused, technologically independent, and accountable system capable of confronting modern threats.
Delivering a hard-hitting address on “Emerging Geopolitical Dynamics and Africa’s Security Architecture,” the elder statesman argued that Africa’s persistent conflicts are not accidental but stem from “specific, identifiable failures of leadership,” compounded by what he described as intensifying external manipulation.
“We are witnessing the fracturing of the post-1945 multilateral order,” Obasanjo said, pointing to the global fallout from the Russian invasion of Ukraine and contrasting international responses to crises in regions such as Gaza and the Sahel. According to him, these inconsistencies expose a global system that applies its rules selectively—often at Africa’s expense.
A Continent Under Pressure
Obasanjo painted a stark picture of a continent caught in a renewed geopolitical contest, warning of a “new scramble for Africa.” He cited expanding foreign influence through initiatives like China’s Belt and Road Initiative, the growing footprint of Russian-linked security actors across the Sahel and the Horn of Africa, and the vacuum left by the withdrawal of Western forces from key conflict zones.
These developments, he said, have coincided with a surge in terrorism, violent extremism, and an alarming wave of military takeovers across the continent since 2020—what he described as a “coup epidemic.”
Five Pillars for a New Security Order
In response, Obasanjo outlined five concrete propositions aimed at reshaping Africa’s security framework:
• Human-centred security: Prioritising the safety and welfare of citizens over elite interests.
• Continental solidarity: Strengthening joint mechanisms such as the African Standby Force and early warning systems.
• Disrupting illicit financing: Empowering intelligence agencies to tackle financial flows that sustain insecurity.
• Technological sovereignty: Building African capacity in artificial intelligence, cyber defence, and drone warfare.
• Accountable governance: Establishing transparent leadership as the foundation of lasting security.
He stressed that without credible governance, no military or intelligence strategy can succeed.
Intelligence at the Core
Central to Obasanjo’s message was a forceful critique of Africa’s use of intelligence. He described intelligence as “indispensable to conflict prevention” but “woefully underused,” citing missed warning signs in past crises across Liberia, Sierra Leone, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sudan.
He urged the creation of a truly integrated continental intelligence network, beginning with stronger regional cooperation, and insisted that effectiveness must be anchored in professionalism and civilian oversight.
“Intelligence services that operate with integrity… and are subordinate to civilian authority are not weaker—they are stronger,” he declared.
Leadership Under Scrutiny
In a rare moment of reflection, Obasanjo drew from his own involvement in major African peace efforts, including Nigeria-led interventions under ECOMOG in Liberia and Sierra Leone, and mediation roles in Burundi and Zimbabwe. He argued that successful conflict resolution has always depended on “accurate intelligence, courageous honesty, and selfless leadership.”
He also introduced his “Obasanjo 55+20 Leadership Framework,” a structured model outlining 55 measurable leadership attributes and 20 core values. At its heart, he said, lies “courageous honesty”—the willingness of leaders to confront uncomfortable truths.
A Final Warning
Addressing an audience that included Noordin Mohamed Haji and intelligence heads from across Africa, Obasanjo closed with a stark warning and a challenge.
At nearly 90, he said his decades of experience have shown both Africa’s promise and its recurring failures.
“Africa’s conflicts are not inevitable,” he said. “They are the product of leadership choices. What is required now is the will—and the courage and audacity—to choose differently.”
His message was unmistakable: without decisive reforms, Africa risks remaining a battleground for external powers; with them, it has a chance to secure its future on its own terms.
Obasanjo Unveils Bold Blueprint for Africa’s Security Overhaul, Warns Against New Scramble
Nigeria Woos Diaspora Investors in Silicon Valley, Says “Ready for Business”
By: Michael Mike
Nigeria has intensified its push to attract diaspora-driven investments, with the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, declaring that the country is fully open and prepared for business.
Speaking in Silicon Valley, California, at a high-level pre-event dinner ahead of the African Diaspora Investment Symposium 2026 (ADIS26), Dabiri-Erewa assured global investors—particularly Nigerians in the diaspora—that Nigeria offers vast and untapped investment opportunities across sectors.
The event, hosted at Santa Clara University, brought together top African and global stakeholders under the theme: “Bridging Africa & Silicon Valley: Shaping the Future of Innovation, Investment, and Inclusive Growth.”
Dabiri-Erewa said Nigeria is deliberately positioning its diaspora as a strategic economic force, leveraging their expertise, capital, and global networks to accelerate national development.
She highlighted ongoing reforms and investment-friendly policies under the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that the government is creating an enabling environment for diaspora participation in critical sectors, including technology, infrastructure, and entrepreneurship.
According to her, the focus is shifting from remittances to structured, long-term investments capable of driving sustainable economic growth and innovation.
“The Nigerian diaspora remains one of our strongest assets,” she said, stressing that deeper engagement would unlock transformative opportunities for both the country and its global citizens.
The NIDCOM boss also commended Almaz Negash, founder of the African Diaspora Network, for convening the platform and fostering cross-continental partnerships.
Beyond the dinner, Dabiri-Erewa held a working session with Nigerian professionals in the United States, many of whom expressed readiness to collaborate with NIDCOM on initiatives aimed at national development.
The engagements attracted a diverse mix of African and American leaders, innovators, investors, and policymakers, reinforcing a growing consensus on the need to build stronger bridges between Africa and the global technology ecosystem.
The gathering underscored a shared commitment to moving beyond traditional remittance flows toward impactful investments that can shape Africa’s economic future.
Nigeria Woos Diaspora Investors in Silicon Valley, Says “Ready for Business”
Zulum Cracks Down on Insurgent Support Networks, Backs Airstrikes on ‘Notorious’ Border Market
By: Michael Mike
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has issued a stern warning to residents against aiding or providing any form of support to Boko Haram, as intensified military operations target suspected logistics hubs in the North-East.
The warning comes in the wake of recent air operations by the Operation Hadin Kai, which struck the Jilli general area in Gubio Local Government Area on April 11, 2026.
Jilli, a border community linking Borno and Yobe states, has come under scrutiny as a suspected conduit for insurgent activities. According to the governor, the Jilli market—alongside the nearby Gazabure market—had been officially shut down by the state government five years ago due to security concerns.
“I have been properly briefed on the airstrike carried out on Jilli market,” Zulum said, describing the location as a “notorious hub” allegedly exploited by insurgents and their supply chains.
He revealed ongoing high-level consultations with the Yobe State Government and military leadership, underscoring a coordinated regional approach to tackling insurgency and preventing the resurgence of rebel strongholds along state borders.
Zulum emphasized that any decision to reopen markets or resettle communities in conflict-affected zones is taken only after thorough security assessments and in collaboration with the military and other agencies.
Reaffirming his administration’s stance, the governor said protecting civilians remains paramount, while also stressing that individuals found aiding insurgents—whether through shelter, information, or logistics—would face serious consequences.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and support security forces by sharing credible intelligence, noting that community cooperation is critical to dismantling insurgent networks and restoring lasting peace in the region.
Zulum Cracks Down on Insurgent Support Networks, Backs Airstrikes on ‘Notorious’ Border Market
Nation mourns as brave Commanding Officer, six soldiers fall after repelling attack in Monguno
Obasanjo Unveils Bold Blueprint for Africa’s Security Overhaul, Warns Against New Scramble
Nigeria Woos Diaspora Investors in Silicon Valley, Says “Ready for Business”
Roger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
FAILED COUP IN BURKINA FASO: HOW TRAORÉ NARROWLY ESCAPED ASSASSINATION PLOT AMID FOREIGN INTERFERENCE CLAIMS
-
News2 years agoRoger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
-
Opinions4 years ago
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
-
News12 months agoFAILED COUP IN BURKINA FASO: HOW TRAORÉ NARROWLY ESCAPED ASSASSINATION PLOT AMID FOREIGN INTERFERENCE CLAIMS
-
News2 years agoEYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
Opinions4 years agoPOLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
ACADEMICS2 years agoA History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Columns2 years agoArmy University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
Opinions2 years agoTinubu,Shettima: The epidemic of economic, insecurity in Nigeria
