Completed Projects in Nigeria

Drug Abuse Control Among Street Children and Commercial Sex Workers

This project assesses the knowledge, awareness, the extent and patterns of drug abuse among street children and commercial sex workers in the cities of Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano. The assessment will also identify the linkages between drug abuse and broader socio-economic and cultural issues. Based on the findings of and the needs identified through the assessment, the project will develop appropriate interventions for drug abuse prevention among the target groups. A well-reputed NGO (BAOBAB) in Nigeria implements most of the project activities in close co-operation with government authorities, particularly NDLEA, the leading drug agency. Universities, non-governmental organizations and other UN agencies will also be involved, thereby strengthening the basis for enhanced inter-agency co-operation in the future. At the end of the project, a prevention programme tailored to the specific needs of the target group will be operational in the three cities. 

Assistance in Drug Abuse Control with Emphasis on Drug Demand Reduction Education

The long-term objective of the project was to augment the Federal Government's capacity to place before the general public the danger of abusing and misusing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. Under this arrangement, States were provided, through the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, with public enlightenment materials. Funds were also disbursed quarterly to Drug Control Committees in the States to enable them carry out activities under this project.

Reduction of Illicit Demand for Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances

The project aimed at establishing and equipping four Treatment and Rehabilitation Centres in Nigeria and to introduce the unit dose dispensing systems (UDDS) in six selected hospitals. To facilitate their drug demand reduction activities, both NDLEA and NAFDAC received vehicles under this project. A revision of the project, in line with the objectives of the National Drug Control Strategy endorsed by the Head of State in 1995, provided a framework for facilitating the work of NGOs and other partners in drug abuse prevention and awareness. It also facilitated integration of drug abuse control on a pilot basis into community-based development projects supported by the United Nations Development System (UNDS) in Nigeria. The revision also provided for the supply of specialized equipment for Desk Top printing to the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for the publication of a medical bulletin that would assist NAFDAC in the promotion of public awareness materials on control measures of psychotropic substances.

Assistance in Drug Law Enforcement

Executive Summary: The long term objectives of this project were to increase the operational effectiveness of the NDLEA and its units in collaborating with the Nigeria Police Force and also to increase operational effectiveness of inspectors in the Federal Ministry of Health on attachment to NDLEA through improved transportation, communication, search capability, search and investigative techniques and training. The objectives also included co-ordination of activities among various agencies having drug control and enforcement responsibilities in order to permit the targeting of higher echelons within the trafficking milieu.

"Talking About Drugs", Nigeria

Executive Summary: The project was aimed at taking advantage of the potential of television to generate discussion and debate among the general population on drug Issues. Under this project, two TV documentaries/ talk shows, the first on drug trafficking and the second on drug abuse, treatment and rehabilitation, were produced and broadcast/ aired in 15 local TV networks throughout Nigeria.

Development of Drug Demand Reduction Programme for Nigeria

The objective of this project was to design a comprehensive strategy for drug demand reduction activities in Nigeria. A workshop was held using the Objectives-Oriented Project Planning (OOPP) methodology, aimed at devising the strategy for carrying out a proper Drug Demand Reduction (DDR) exercise. At that stage, six component parts (data and research; training; T&R social reintroduction; drug prevention in the education system; drug prevention and the general public) were identified for any effective exercise to combat the drug problem in Nigeria. Based on the identified component parts six thematic workshops were held. This also focused on redefining the institutional framework of Drug Demand Reduction activities in Nigeria by recognizing the role of NGOs, NDLEA DDRU and other governmental agencies. The First Lady of Nigeria released the report of the six thematic workshops. This report also served as one of the references for the development of the Nigeria National Drug Control Master Plan.

"The First Step" -  Assistance to the Secretariat of the Master Plan Committee

Following the sensitization carried out by the UNDCP Office in Nigeria, the idea of a comprehensive drug control policy and a single operational document addressing the drug issue was accepted by the Government of Nigeria. To that extent, a Master Plan Committee chaired by the Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA was established and formally launched by the Head of State on 1 December 1994. This project aimed to support the will of the Federal Government of Nigeria to create the basis for the definition of a comprehensive drug control policy. In that context, the project made provision for expertise and logistic assistance to the Secretariat of the Master Plan Committee. The Secretariat later formed the core co-ordination/policy unit that evaluated and supervised implementation of the master plan. The unit also provided a permanent planning, evaluation and policy development capability within NDLEA that elaborated future drug control strategies in Nigeria. The National Drug Control Strategy was endorsed by the Head of State in June 1995 and launched officially in August 1995 paving the way for the preparation of the National Drug Control Master Plan which was finalized and released by the Head of State in May 1999.

Grants to NGOs

Seventeen NGOs have so far received this grant in Nigeria for activities in the areas of treatment and rehabilitation, prevention and awareness, vocational rehabilitation of drug addicts, development of awareness and reference materials, integration of drug-abuse control in health programmes and research.