FG, UNODC, MTN Nigeria Foundation Partner on National Substance Use Survey
FG, UNODC, MTN Nigeria Foundation Partner on National Substance Use Survey
FG, UNODC, MTN Nigeria Foundation Partner on National Substance Use Survey
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling substance abuse as it partners with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the MTN Nigeria Foundation on a nationwide survey on substance use in Nigeria.
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Vice President Kashim Shettima gave the assurance on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, during the signing of the letter of acceptance for cooperation on the National Substance Use Survey.
Describing the initiative as critical to Nigeria’s future, Shettima stressed that the Federal Government would take full ownership and leadership of the project to ensure it delivers actionable outcomes.
“We expect the findings to serve as policy inputs, not just documents, and we anticipate a comprehensive report by the first quarter of next year,” he said.
The Vice President further disclosed that a Project Management Office (PMO) would be established within his office to coordinate all aspects of the exercise, including questionnaire design, field operations, inter-agency collaboration, and the utilisation of the final report.
He noted that the survey would generate detailed data at the local government level, enabling authorities to design targeted interventions to address substance abuse and its associated challenges.
Earlier, Executive Director of the MTN Nigeria Foundation, Odunayo Sanya, said the initiative aims to strengthen collaboration between the private sector and government in safeguarding Nigeria’s youth population.
She explained that the survey would be comprehensive and aligned with similar interventions already supported by the Foundation across the country.
In his remarks, UNODC Country Representative, Cheikh Ousmane Toure, described the partnership as a strong signal of Nigeria’s determination to combat drug abuse and related crimes.
He reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to providing technical expertise, adding that the collaboration marks the beginning of deeper engagement between the government, private sector, and international partners.
The event was attended by key stakeholders, including the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, and members of the MTN Nigeria Foundation board.
The initiative is expected to provide critical data to guide policy formulation and strengthen national efforts to address substance abuse across Nigeria.
FG, UNODC, MTN Nigeria Foundation Partner on National Substance Use Survey
