Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged the nation’s youth and students to refrain from using and abusing psychoactive substances, stressing that these drugs bring no positive value to life and instead result in immense harm. His appeal came during his keynote address at the second edition of the Fly Above The High anti-drug campaign conference, held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Obasanjo highlighted the escalating issue of drug abuse in Nigeria and the broader West African region, noting the urgent need for restraint among young people. Reflecting on his past experience as Chairman of the West African Drug Commission under the Kofi Annan Foundation, he expressed grave concern about how the region, once primarily a transit hub for illicit drugs, had now become a major center for consumption.
“But to our dismay, displeasure, and pain, at the end of the exercise, we found out that West Africa has equally been a centre for drug consumption in a very bad way,” Obasanjo said, referencing the findings from his time with the Commission. “That was more than 10 years ago, so the situation has since gone worse. And whatever applies to West Africa applies to all other parts of Africa.”
The former president did not just rely on statistics and analysis but also shared a personal story to underscore the dangers of drug use. Obasanjo recounted a time in his youth when he tried smoking, an experience that led to severe coughing. This unpleasant reaction deterred him from continuing the habit. He warned the attendees that had he persisted, he might have developed an addiction.
“If I had persisted, I could have become addicted. Once you get involved, it is difficult to get out,” Obasanjo cautioned the gathering, which included youths, students, mental health professionals, and policymakers. He stressed that the journey into addiction could start with a seemingly harmless experiment but can quickly spiral into a destructive pattern.
Obasanjo emphasized the devastating consequences of drug use, stating unequivocally, “There’s nothing drug can do for you except destruction.” He warned that addiction not only harms individuals but also has far-reaching effects on families, communities, and nations at large. He called on society to recognize the destructive potential of drugs and work together to eliminate their influence.
