As Nigeria marked International Youth Day on Wednesday, the Frontline Advocacy Initiative (FAI) urged young people to reject illicit drugs and called on governments to increase investment in addiction treatment and rehabilitation services.
International Youth Day is observed annually on 12 August to draw attention to issues affecting young people and promote their participation in social and economic development. The theme for the 2026 commemoration is, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations.”
In a statement, the Founder and Executive Director of FAI, Shakirudeen Bankole, expressed concern about illicit drug use among young people and what he described as inadequate treatment and rehabilitation services for people struggling with substance dependence.
Mr Bankole, who is also President of the Alimosho Youth Development Association of Nigeria (AYDAN), said his concerns were informed by his work with young people and observations across communities in Lagos State.
“As the President of AYDAN, in my routine commute across the large local government area of Lagos State, I encounter daily the brutal consequences of illicit substance use and drug abuse,” he said.
