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The Bishop of the United Methodist Church of Nigeria, Bishop Andy I. Emmanuel, has raised alarm over the growing scourge of drug abuse in the country, revealing that more than 23 million Nigerians—mostly youths—are involved in substance abuse.
Bishop Emmanuel made the disclosure on Thursday at the Drug Desk Conference of the United Methodist Church, West African Regional Conference, held in Monrovia, Liberia. The conference focuses on drug abuse prevention and seeks to address the rising challenge among West African youths through collaboration, prevention strategies, and rehabilitation efforts.According to the cleric, the figure represents about 14.3 per cent of Nigeria’s population, describing it as a troubling national crisis that demands urgent and collective action. He called for a coordinated response involving families, churches, government institutions, and civil society organisations to curb the menace.He urged participants to maximise the workshop to deepen their understanding of drug abuse prevention and rehabilitation, while commending the United Methodist Church’s Drug Desk, led by Rev. Caleb Dormah of Liberia, for initiating the programme. Bishop Emmanuel encouraged delegates to replicate the knowledge gained across all annual conferences within the West African Central Regional Conference.In his keynote address, Bishop Samuel J. Quire of the Liberia Annual Conference, who also serves as President of the West Africa Regional Conference College of Bishops, stressed that the fight against drug abuse begins in the mind. Citing Romans 12:2, he said, “Faith renews, faith restores, and faith liberates,” urging young people to embrace hope, purpose, and God’s plan for their lives.Bishop Quire called for a unified approach involving families, churches, governments, and civil society organisations, emphasising that victims of drug abuse should not be treated as criminals but as individuals in need of restoration. He referenced biblical examples such as the Prodigal Son and Zacchaeus to underscore the message of redemption.Bishop Quire called for a unified approach involving families, churches, governments, and civil society organisations, emphasising that victims of drug abuse should not be treated as criminals but as individuals in need of restoration. He referenced biblical examples such as the Prodigal Son and Zacchaeus to underscore the message of redemption. Also speaking at the conference, the Director-General of the Liberian Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), Fitzgerald Biago, echoed the call for unity, noting that drug abuse transcends national borders and poses a serious threat to the social and economic stability of West African nations.
Representing 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 said the GBGM remains dedicated to partnering with regional churches to strengthen prevention and rehabilitation initiatives.Dr. Maleka appealed for increased collaboration across conferences through the sharing of best practices and the empowerment of local churches to serve as agents of transformation within their communities.
“Together, we can provide hope, healing, and lasting solutions for those affected by substance abuse,” he assured.