National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Its Effectiveness in Curbing Drug Abuse in Ilorin Metropolis

Drug abuse is a long-term social and health issue affecting the Nigerian populace, especially the adolescent population in urban regions. The current study evaluates the effectiveness of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in reducing the drug abuse in Ilorin Metropolis. Convergent mixed-methods design was adopted where quantitative surveys were combined with qualitative processes. Structured questionnaires among 391 participants (residents, community leaders, NDLEA staff and healthcare professionals) and contextual data on in-depth interviews and focus group discussions were used. Numerical data was processed using descriptive and inferential statistics, and qualitative content using thematic analysis. The findings mention a considerable rate of drug abuse (67.8%), where cannabis, tramadol, and codeine-based syrups are the most visited drugs, especially among people aged 15 to 34. The generally positive perceptions of NDLEA enforcement were moderate (mean 2.6), but limited by the low funding, lack of human resources, corruption, and poor cooperation among agencies. Preventive education campaigns had middle-ground effects (mean = 2.9), and rehabilitation programs were negatively affected by lack of infrastructure and stigmatization. The level of community trust of the NDLEA operations was partial, and it was in response to the additional needs of more integrated, community-based solutions. It is concluded that in spite of the visible results in enforcing the law and raising awareness, the NDLEA suffers due to structural, socio-economic and operational constraints and thus its effectiveness is still to be measured. The recommendations involve addition of government funding, to the existing training programs, increasing rehabilitation services, and strengthening community partnerships, in order to enhance the ability of the agency to face the challenge of drug abuse in Ilorin