The Assistant State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Drug Demand Reduction Unit, Grace Adeniyi, has revealed that more than 100 students of the University of Port Harcourt have been involved in drug abuse.
She made the disclosure on Thursday during the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign organised by the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) of the Rivers State Police Command in collaboration with the NDLEA at the university campus.
Adeniyi described drug abuse as not just a law enforcement issue but also a major health, social, and economic concern. “Many students are already victims — some have dropped out, others are struggling silently,” she said, stressing the need for early intervention, sustained awareness, and community collaboration.
The awareness programme, themed “War Against Drug Abuse,” brought together students, university officials, security agencies, and community leaders who called for strengthened preventive education and rehabilitation across Nigerian campuses.
Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Onwunari Georgewill, described the campaign as “a moral and civic call to conscience,” urging stakeholders to protect the nation’s youth from the scourge of substance abuse.
“Universities mirror society—the good, the bad, and the ugly. The war against drugs must be fought not only in police stations or courts but also in classrooms and lecture halls,” he said.
He announced that the university is reinforcing its Counseling and Development Centre and medical services to assist students facing drug-related issues, adding that “the war begins when we choose conversation over condemnation and prevention over punishment.”
Chairman of the PCRC in Rivers State, Voke Emore, said the initiative is part of efforts to bridge the gap between the police and the public while tackling drug-related crimes.
“Drug use fuels criminal acts. Many offenders commit crimes under the influence of drugs. That’s why we’re reaching young people where they are most concentrated — in universities,” he stated.
Now in its third year under the Rivers PCRC, the WADA campaign continues to promote advocacy, education, and community engagement towards building a drug-free generation.
