Drug Abuse in Kubwa

Johnson's Journal

Drug abuse is defined as excessive use of psychoactive drugs, such as alcohol, pain medications or illegal drugs. It can lead to physical, social or emotional harm. Drug abuse is a general problem in Nigeria. 

Over the past year alone, nearly 15% of the adult population in Nigeria (around 14.3 million people) reported  a “considerable level” of use of psychoactive drug substances—it’s a rate much higher than the 2016 global average of 5.6% among adults.

This survey was led by Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the Center for Research and Information on Substance Abuse with technical support from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and funding from the European Union. 

Kubwa in recent times has seen substantial rise in drug abuse. I can attest to the fact that one out of ten youths you will come across in a day in Kubwa is probably on drugs, and the illegal drug trade in Kubwa seem to be thriving as agencies that combat these things haven’t really taken a keen interest in Kubwa. 

I think it’s high time to know Kubwa isn’t just another village in Abuja, it is the largest satellite town in West Africa and it is an integral part of the FCT that requires critical focus.

The most shocking part of all this is that drugs are peddled in Kubwa sometimes in broad daylight. The popular “3-3 junction ” ( three, three junction ) close to the village market is a den for drug addicts and junkies alike. I always do all I can to avoid that junction at night as it is known for constant police raids. 

These raids however have reduced the activity of this drug peddlers but it hasn’t totally curtailed their business as they can still be seen hanging around even as I’m writing this. What amazed me the most was when I discovered that most bikers, Keke drivers and beggars spend most of the money they make during the day on drugs at night. They have a particular spot, it is a supposed local entertainment arena called “gidan drama”.  It is a large mass of land with makeshift houses. If you have had an opportunity of seeing this place you will agree with me that it is a hazard to regular house owners around the area. You'll ’ll see young girls some with babies, smoking and doing all sorts of disgusting acts. 

This gidan drama is located at Nepa road, not too far from Tipper Garage, Byazhin. I can tell you for a fact that hard drugs are sold there without any subtle approach. I have a relative close to the place and anytime I walk through there I’m always very cautious because it is literally a den for all sorts of people. 

I wouldn’t advice walking along that part alone even during the day. My barber was allegedly robbed there around 9AM when he took a short cut that is along that route. I was at the mechanic not too far from the gidan drama some time last year when hoards of police vans, Civil Defense Corps, NDLEA and other security agencies visited the place (gidan drama), they made several arrests and set the makeshift houses ablaze. 

As I write this, everything has returned to the way it was before that incident. In fact, it didn’t even take up to a month before the occupants returned and continued their business as usual. 

After much observation I discovered that even beggars spend a lot of money they make on hard drugs at this Gidan Drama, even the bikers that  carry innocent commuters spend most of their leisure time at this place getting high on all sorts of drugs (it’s really scary if you think about it). 

Pharmacies and neighborhood chemists are not excluded from this trend. I know a lot of chemists here in Kubwa that still sell prescription drugs to people whether they have prescription or not. Most of them have made a fortune from this. 

If you look at it critically, with this high rate of drug abuse comes high rate of crime, because the drugs are not exactly cheap (trust me, I know). When the Federal Government placed a ban on codiene the price of cough syrup went up exponentially. Before the ban you could get a cough syrup with codiene for about N800 but after the ban took effect you’ll need about N3000 or more to be able to get your hands on the cheapest. 

There are so many youths without jobs or source of income and some are addicted to these drugs. Yhey literally can’t go a day without it, so they find every means to get money. Most turn to crime as they feel it’s the fastest way to get money. 

Kubwa is already shaping up to be a standard metropolis and It’ll take the collective effort of both the police and drug agencies to curb rising cases of crime. I feel looking into this drug issue would go a long way in suppressing a major part of the fight against criminal activities in Kubwa. 

I also feel neighborhood chemists and pharmacies should get regular checks and orientations from either the association that governs them or the local government authority. Let them know it’s not just about the money. Let them know their source of livelihood is also at stake if crime keeps increasing as a result of this indiscriminate drug abuse. As much as it’s the duty of the police to keep the peace, they also have a massive role to play. The importance of this issue can’t be overemphasized and it’ll be in our best interest if it is attended to swiftly.

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