The abuse of substances among Nigerian youths is not a new problem, but in recent years it has become more alarming. Across schools, streets and communities, more young people are experimenting with drugs and other harmful substances, raising serious concerns among parents, teachers and community leaders. As the trend continues to grow, many Nigerians are beginning to ask urgent questions about what is driving the rise and what can be done to address the problem. In this piece, Eboselume Olutola examines the narrative, speaks with active drug users and conveys the perspective of experts on how to curb this growing menace.
However, sadly, this is not the case as Star Boy’s popularity stems from his strange kind of lunacy.
Star Boy’s lunatic state is deemed bizarre due to a range of factors. Firstly, it was observed that despite going about the place making incomprehensible displays and speaking incoherently, he didn’t look rough. Secondly, our correspondent also noticed that there were instances where he was either calm and alone or totally out of sight.
In a bid to understand Star Boy better, FTN decided to conduct an investigation through market traders and shop owners. Eventually, it was discovered that Star Boy, who many claim was named Seyi, was previously a vibrant secondary school student in one of the public schools but went rogue some months ago due to his heavy abuse of stimulant substances.
Some market traders further disclosed that Star Boy couldn’t be traced to any particular house because no one had come looking for him since he began roaming the market. It was also gathered that Star Boy, when sober, would go around doing menial jobs in order to get funds and continue his cycle of drug abuse.
Upon further research, FTN discovered that Star Boy’s case isn’t an isolated one, as there are other markets and public spaces across other states with different “star boys,” and even “star girls.”
Drug and substance abuse have been showing up more often lately across newspaper headlines, on the radio, and on television. Social media, too, has not been left out, with numerous stories being portrayed frequently.
Based on recent reports, including data from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Nigeria faces a severe drug abuse crisis with rates exceeding the global average.
According to key statistics obtained from 2024-2025, approximately 14.3 million Nigerians (aged 15-64) are involved in drug abuse, representing a 14.4% prevalence rate when compared to other countries globally. With cannabis and opioids taking the lead among substances abused, experts warn that by 2030, the number of drug users could rise to 20 million if current trends continue.
A disturbing scene was witnessed last week when an upsetting video made a buzz across social media. In that video, a notable content creator visited a well-known train passage in Lagos to interview men and women, between the ages of 19 and 35, who have taken to a life of drug use and now reside permanently at the railway arena.
More troubling was the state of these individuals and the story they had to tell. With many of them looking sickly and at the mercy of nature, the video revealed that the railway arena had been turned into a full-fledged community with some dwellers residing there for the past 20 years.
Read More: Sanwo-Olu signs Lagos Electricity Law, inaugurates state regulatory commission
FTN speaks with substance users
In order to get first-hand experience of what it feels like to be a substance user and the likely reasons why these individuals indulge in such acts, our correspondent decided to speak with some users in Lagos State.
Beneath the Berger bridge is home to numerous young boys and girls, many of whom are within the age range of most junior and senior secondary school students. However, for one reason or another, they have decided to make the bridge their home.
Prior to the actual day of the interview, FTN had previously observed a trend of many bridge dwellers smoking what is believed to be Indian hemp, due to the aroma, during early hours of the day during the week. As a result, the Berger Bridge residents became the ideal sample for our survey.
Speaking with these young street boys and girls who are within the ages of 16 and 22, it was discovered that they got introduced to substance abuse by friends within their school and immediate community. In addition, more puzzling is how cheaply and easily they can get access to these substances.
For instance, 18-year-old Bayo said he started smoking at age 16. According to him, he got introduced to cigarettes in secondary school before proceeding to marijuana due to the “ineffectiveness of cigarettes to raise his consciousness.” He further revealed that he cannot go a day without using stimulants and sometimes can go as far as begging for money to satisfy his addiction.
In the same vein, Folake, a 22-year-old lady who claimed to have fled the home of her parents due to maltreatment, said she needed to get high to run her business effectively. She noted that her line of work required her to interact with crazy individuals, and for this reason, she had to be wild and on alert. Folake further disclosed that she is saving from the proceeds of her current business in order to leave the life she currently lives behind.
Similarly, Farooq, who didn’t reveal his age, said he is the son of a prominent Nigerian. Although he didn’t disclose his true identity, he, however, stated that he had previously been taken to several places, including rehab and a spiritual center, for him to get off drugs. When asked why he was found amongst other occupants of the bridge, he said, “I was left to myself when it became glaring that I wouldn’t quit my addiction. I think another issue is that I have access to these things cheaply. And in a situation where I can’t get enough money to buy my preferred option, I can always make use of cheaper options like tramadol.”
Experts proffer solutions
During a training session, Toyin Falola, a professor of history, raised concern over the growing consumption and trafficking of illicit drugs across Nigeria and Africa, stating that the trend poses a serious risk to public health, while urging African leaders to take practical steps to curb the growing quagmire.
Falola pointed to ongoing debates over drug legalisation, referencing countries such as the United States and Canada, where regulated use has been adopted in certain jurisdictions. In contrast, he said several African nations, including Mozambique, Kenya, Tanzania, Niger, Ghana, and Nigeria, are battling heroin and tramadol abuse.
While linking the surge in drug use to unemployment and mounting urban pressures, citing Lagos and parts of Guinea-Bissau where cocaine consumption is reportedly common, he warned that West Africa has become a major transit point for cocaine shipments from Latin America, raising fears about corruption and the risk of “narco-state” dynamics.
According to him, trafficking patterns vary across the continent, with West Africa heavily associated with tramadol flows, East Africa linked to criminal networks and heroin routes via the Indian Ocean, and Southern Africa identified as a significant methamphetamine market. He added that North Africa, particularly Morocco, is increasingly viewed as a global drug circulation hub.
He therefore indicated that the government must tackle the root causes of the problem, particularly unemployment and the growing pressures of urban life, which often push many youths toward substance use, while stressing the need for stronger border control and regional cooperation to disrupt drug trafficking networks in as West Africa.
In his submission, Olusegun Oludipe, the national director of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) Nigeria, a nonprofit organization that caters to the needs of Christian schools, stressed that the surge in hard drug use among youths is a symptom of deeper systemic issues.
Being an educator, he disclosed that school teachers must go beyond academics and focus on discipling these youths, laying emphasis on the need to work on character development, emotional intelligence, and life skills. “If we create supportive environments, where young people feel valued, heard, and guided, we can significantly reduce this troubling trend,” he said.
He further urged parents to be present in the lives of their children and be empowered through awareness programs, as many parents seem unaware and oblivious of modern drug trends and warning signs, while adding that schools and communities should organize regular workshops to help parents understand how to communicate effectively with their children.
We do everything possible to supply quality news and information to all our valuable readers day in, day out and we are committed to keep doing this.
Your kind donation will help our continuous research efforts.
-Advertisement-
-Want to get the news as it breaks?-
