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Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has called for a strategic partnership with patent medicine vendors, identifying them as critical agents in the fight against substance abuse through strict adherence to ethical dispensing practices.
The Commander of Narcotics, Mitchell Ofoyeju, made the call during a one-day anti-drug abuse workshop organized for members of the National Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers, Edo State Chapter.
The workshop, held on Wednesday at the Ogbe Stadium Indoor Sports Hall in Benin City, was themed “Patent Medicine Vendors as Frontline Defenders: Ensuring Safe Medicines, Preventing Drug Abuse.”
Addressing about 2,154 NAPPMED members across Edo South, alongside resource persons, NDLEA officers and the media, Ofoyeju described the gathering as both a capacity-building exercise and a clarion call to uphold rules guiding access to medicines.
He stressed the need for collective action against substance abuse and illicit drug trade, warning that the diversion of prescription drugs, psychoactive substances and codeine-based syrups fuels addiction, destroys families and undermines the future of youths.
“The line between legitimate medicine and substance abuse is perilously thin, and it is at this junction that NAPPMED members stand as gatekeepers,” he said, urging participants to maintain high ethical standards in their operations.
In her welcome address, the state president of NAPPMED, Omueti Victoria, described the workshop as remarkable and reaffirmed the association’s commitment to collaborating with relevant stakeholders to combat drug abuse.
She noted that members of the association, as healthcare providers regulated by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, would continue to ensure responsible dispensing of medicines in line with national standards.
Ofoyeju highlighted key challenges in Edo State, including diversion of controlled drugs and the growing influence of profit-driven practices, which he said contribute to addiction and erode societal values.
He explained that the workshop aimed to deepen participants’ understanding of drug laws, enhance their ability to detect abuse indicators, reinforce ethical practices and position them as active agents of prevention and referral.
The NDLEA boss assured participants of collaboration but warned that the agency would not hesitate to arrest and prosecute erring members, adding that the initiative aligns with the directive of NDLEA Chairman, Mohamed Buba Marwa, to strengthen public education and enforcement.
He added that the program would boost intelligence gathering and grassroots surveillance, describing it as a step towards a community-centered approach in Nigeria’s drug control strategy, with similar workshops planned for Edo Central and Edo North districts.
