NDLEA Trains 100+ Counsellors on Drug Rehabilitation Services

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has commenced a nationwide training programme for more than 100 counsellors as part of efforts to strengthen drug treatment and rehabilitation services across the country.

The training began at the NDLEA Academy in Jos, Plateau State, bringing together counsellors from the agency’s formations nationwide.

Coordinated by the Directorate of Counselling, Treatment and Rehabilitation, the programme is designed to equip counsellors with modern therapeutic skills and establish more uniform rehabilitation practices across NDLEA treatment facilities.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), represented by the Director of Counselling, Treatment and Rehabilitation, ACGN Bashir Ibrahim, said the exercise was important to strengthening the agency’s rehabilitation services.

Marwa said the training would equip counsellors with modern tools to address the increasing complexity of substance use disorders while ensuring that people receiving treatment receive evidence-based and quality interventions.

He said the programme would also introduce uniform counselling protocols across rehabilitation facilities operated by the agency’s state commands.

The training will cover clinical skills for dealing with emerging psychoactive substances and co-occurring mental health disorders, as well as ethics, confidentiality and quality assurance.

Other areas include data management for evidence-based policymaking, peer review, clinical supervision and continuous professional development.

Marwa said strengthening the capacity of counsellors would improve the quality of care available at NDLEA rehabilitation facilities and reinforce Nigeria’s drug treatment and rehabilitation system.

He assured that the agency would continue investing in staff development and adopting global best practices as part of its broader efforts to tackle both drug supply and demand in Nigeria.