Kwara Governor Raises Alarm Over Drug Abuse, Outlines Multi-Pronged Response Strategy

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has raised a fresh alarm over the rising incidence of substance abuse among young people, warning that the trend poses a severe, multi-dimensional threat to public health, social stability, and economic productivity. The governor issued the warning on Tuesday in Ilorin, the state capital, during his keynote address at the Anti-Substance Abuse Programme Stakeholders Conference, organized by the MTN Foundation to commemorate the 2026 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

Addressing an audience of security officials, community leaders, and development partners, AbdulRazaq emphasized that drug abuse has evolved beyond a standard law enforcement issue into a complex public health and developmental crisis. He noted that expanding drug trafficking networks and easier access to potent synthetic substances are leaving the state's youth population increasingly vulnerable, necessitating an immediate shift toward innovative, community-wide interventions.