NATIONAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST DRUG ABUSE & HOMELESSNESS

Nigeria is contending with a worsening double-edged crisis of widespread drug abuse and growing homelessness, particularly among young people and vulnerable populations. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reports that 14.4% of Nigerians (14.3 million people) aged 15–64 have used psychoactive substances, well above the global average of 5.6%.

While this sad state of affairs persists, urban centres like Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Kano have witnessed a sharp rise in street-dwelling youths, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and the urban homeless, with limited access to shelter, rehabilitation, or mental health services.

Homelessness, driven by rapid urbanisation, economic hardship, and insurgency, affects millions and exposes individuals to further abuse, hardship and stress-induced mental health conditions.

This campaign by the National Association of Seadogs, under the theme –  “Pathways to Dignity”, will go beyond statistics to confront the human realities behind these crises. This is to ultimately shift public perception from stigma to support. By fostering empathy and understanding, we aim to build a more supportive environment for rehabilitation, recovery, and reintegration.

Combating drug abuse and homelessness also requires a national dialogue on socio- political accountability and citizens’ welfare. The campaign seeks to catalyse that dialogue, and demand action from government and urge private organizations to fulfil their corporate social responsibility (CSR) in addressing these pressing issues.

The campaign aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:

Join us on Saturday, October 4th, 2025 to address this escalating crisis in Nigeria.