The Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kwara State Command, has raised the alarm that motor parks in Lagos, Oyo, Abuja, and other major cities have become transit points for illicit drug shipments into the state.

The NDLEA Commander in Kwara State, Fatima Abiola Popoola, disclosed this on Tuesday in Ilorin during the MTN Anti-Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP) stakeholder conference, themed: "The World Drug Problem: Persisting Issues, New Challenges, Innovative Responses."

She noted that unless more corporate bodies join the MTN Foundation in the fight against drug abuse, Nigeria may struggle to overcome the menace.

According to her, illicit drug dealers in Kwara often source their supplies from Lagos, Oyo, Abuja, and other locations, utilizing commercial bus operators for transportation. She explained that intercepting this channel is often difficult because some drivers, who are allegedly financially induced, deliberately avoid checkpoints.

Popoola added that aside from commercial buses, "some peddlers also use tinted SUV vehicles to convey the banned substances."

She pleaded with corporate organisations to emulate the MTN Foundation in combating drug abuse among the youth. She highlighted that the one per cent deduction from annual after-tax profits, as utilised by MTN, has significantly boosted its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts, lamenting that the drug menace has deeply infiltrated the fabric of society.

"It is a known fact that most crimes committed by the youths have underlying drug abuse. We are calling on parents and community leaders to please take due care of their young ones," she pleaded.

Fielding questions from newsmen, the Kwara State Commissioner for Social Development, Hajia Nnafatimah Imam, described the MTN Foundation advocacy conference as laudable and a significant step towards ensuring a drug-free society.

Meanwhile, other speakers, including MTN Foundation officials, agreed on the need for intensified advocacy across Nigeria to sensitise youths to the dangers of illicit substances, which can hinder the realisation of their full potentials.