By Terna Chikpa, Jalingo
The Bishop of the United Methodist Church of Nigeria (UMCN), Bishop Andy I. Emmanuel, on Thursday said that over 23 million Nigerians, mostly youths, are involved in drug abuse.
The Bishop made the statement during the Drug Desk Conference of the United Methodist Church, West Africa Regional Conference, held in Monrovia, Liberia.
According to the Bishop, the figure represents 14.3 percent of Nigeria’s population, a development he described as alarming.
He called for a collaborative effort involving church leaders, government agencies, families, and civil society organisations to curb the growing menace.
He urged participants to take advantage of the workshop to enhance their knowledge and capacity in addressing drug abuse.
Bishop Emmanuel also commended the United Methodist Church’s Drug Desk, headed by Rev. Caleb Dormah of Liberia, for initiating the programme and encouraged delegates to replicate the knowledge gained across all annual conferences within the West Africa Central Regional Conference.
The PERISCOPE NIGERIA reports that the Drug Desk Conference is a drug abuse prevention initiative aimed at addressing the rising incidence of substance abuse among West African youths through collaboration, prevention, and rehabilitation.
In a keynote address, Bishop Samuel J. Quire of the Liberia Annual Conference, who is also the President of the West Africa Regional Conference College of Bishops, emphasised that the fight against drug abuse begins in the mind, citing Romans 12:2.
“Faith renews, faith restores, and faith liberates,” he said, urging young people to embrace hope, purpose, and God’s plan for their lives.
Bishop Quire called for a unified response involving families, churches, governments, and civil society organisations to tackle drug abuse across the region.
“Those trapped in drug abuse are not criminals to be discarded; they are sons and daughters to be restored,” he said, citing biblical examples such as the Prodigal Son and Zacchaeus.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the Liberian Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), Fitzgerald Biago, echoed the call for unity and decisive action, noting that drug abuse is not confined by borders and poses a serious threat to the social and economic stability of West African nations.
Addressing the conference on behalf of the United Methodist Church Global Board of Global Ministries (GBGM), Rev. Dr. Jean-Claude Masuka Maleka reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to combating drug abuse.
He assured participants that GBGM remains dedicated to partnering with regional churches to strengthen prevention and rehabilitation efforts. He also appealed for collaboration across conferences through the sharing of best practices and the empowerment of local churches to serve as agents of transformation in their communities.
“Together, we can provide hope, provide healing, and offer solutions for those affected by substance abuse,” Dr. Maleka assured.
