…As NDLEA Urges Delta Govt to Complete Kwale, Agbor Rehabilitation Centres
Yahaya Idris in Asaba
The Delta State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to building a drug-free society through sustained prevention, public enlightenment and early intervention in partnership with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The commitment was reiterated on Wednesday in Asaba as the state prepares to commence the second phase of the Drug-Free Delta Campaign on Monday, September 21, 2026.
The second phase of the campaign will target selected secondary and tertiary institutions across the three senatorial districts of the state.
Speaking at a joint press conference with the NDLEA Delta State Command, Director-General of the Delta State Bureau for Orientation and Communications, Olorogun Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, Esq., said the campaign was part of the administration’s sustained efforts to promote responsible choices, strengthen drug-abuse prevention and ensure that young people have access to accurate information and appropriate support.
Oghenesivbe said the state government, under Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, remained committed to protecting young people from the consequences of substance abuse through continuous awareness and early intervention.
He particularly emphasised the role of families in preventing drug abuse, urging parents and guardians to pay closer attention to their children’s friends, social environment, academic performance and behavioural changes.
According to him, effective communication, supervision, discipline, affection, good parenting and deliberate inculcation of sound moral values remain important safeguards against negative peer influence and substance abuse.
The Bureau chief urged parents to create an atmosphere where children could discuss difficult issues without fear, stressing that government and law-enforcement agencies could not substitute for the family in raising responsible young people.
He advised parents not to wait until a child develops a serious substance-use problem before intervening, but to begin early conversations about responsible living, the consequences of drug abuse and the importance of making positive choices.
Oghenesivbe also called for stronger collaboration among schools, parents, traditional rulers, faith-based organisations, community leaders, youth organisations, civil society groups and the media.
He urged stakeholders to make drug prevention a continuous conversation in homes, schools, places of worship and communities rather than an activity restricted to campaign periods.
The Director-General further stressed the importance of responsible media reporting, urging journalists and other media practitioners to educate the public without stigmatising persons affected by substance abuse.
He disclosed that Phase Two of the Drug-Free Delta Campaign is wholly funded by the Delta State Government.77
NDLEA Reports 248 Convictions
On its part, the NDLEA Delta State Command, led by State Commander Mr Halilu Hamidu, presented operational data highlighting the agency’s enforcement and preventive activities in the state.
Hamidu disclosed that between July 2025 and September 2026, the command secured 248 convictions, while 223 cases remained pending in court.
He added that the command conducted 181 War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) and other drug-sensitisation activities, during which 693 persons — 463 males and 230 females — were counselled.
The NDLEA commander further disclosed that the command seized 2.446497 tonnes of solid drug exhibits and recovered 1,304.630 litres of liquid drug exhibits within the period under review.
According to him, the seized substances included cannabis, tramadol, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, diazepam, codeine, pentazocine and other psychotropic substances.
Hamidu cited the raid on a warehouse at Oko Market, Asaba, where illicit substances valued at more than N150 million were recovered, alongside the interception of trucks and commercial buses allegedly conveying illicit substances along major highways in the state.
He said the operations demonstrated the importance of sustained intelligence-driven enforcement but stressed that enforcement alone could not solve the drug problem.
“A student who never starts using illicit drugs is a success for every agency involved in this campaign,” Hamidu said.
He explained that the NDLEA’s prevention efforts were aimed at helping young people understand the consequences of drug abuse and know where to obtain assistance when necessary.
NDLEA Seeks Completion of Rehabilitation Centres
Hamidu called for stronger collaboration between the NDLEA, Delta State Government and other stakeholders, noting that parents, educational institutions, community leaders, religious organisations, civil society groups and the media all had roles to play in preventing drug abuse.
He also appealed to the Delta State Government to expedite the completion and full operationalisation of the rehabilitation centres in Kwale and Agbor.
According to him, functional rehabilitation facilities would strengthen the state’s capacity to provide rehabilitation and reintegration services for persons affected by drug abuse and substance-use disorders.
The NDLEA command also requested support for suitable office accommodation and logistics in Asaba to strengthen its operational capacity in the state capital.
Asaba Rehabilitation Centre
Chairman of the Asaba Drug and Rehabilitation Committee, Dr Ify Uraih, who attended the press conference, similarly appealed to the state government to support the committee towards achieving the planned October opening ceremony of the Asaba Rehabilitation Centre.
Uraih commended the NDLEA for its dedication and achievements in the state, stressing the importance of making rehabilitation services readily available to persons requiring assistance.
Oghenesivbe commended the NDLEA Delta Command for its partnership and contribution to the Drug-Free Delta initiative.
He reiterated the state government’s commitment to protecting the wellbeing and future of young Deltans, urging all stakeholders to regard drug prevention as a collective responsibility.
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He said a safer and healthier Delta would require government, families, schools, communities, faith-based organisations, traditional institutions, civil society and the media to work together in raising a responsible generation.
The highpoint of the briefing was the unveiling of campaign materials for the second phase of the Drug-Free Delta Campaign by the Bureau, assisted by senior officials of the NDLEA and the Asaba Drug and Rehabilitation Committee.