NDLEA, Remedial Health Discuss Plans to Address Drug Abuse in Nigeria

Samuel Mobolaji

Remedial Health, a healthech company dedicated to making Africa’s pharmaceutical value chain more efficient, recently paid a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa (Rtd), to discuss the critical issue of drug abuse in Nigeria and explore potential collaborations with the agency.

Since the new chairman was appointed in January 2021, NDLEA has made significant strides in tackling drug abuse and misuse in Nigeria. Under his leadership, the agency has successfully expanded its efforts through collaborations and partnerships that have reasserted its position as one of the best-performing and most impactful agencies in the country.

At the meeting, both parties discussed the urgent need for improved oversight and management within Nigeria’s pharmaceutical value chain, as well as potential collaborations between the two organisations that will address challenges within the pharmaceutical sector, particularly concerning the distribution and misuse of drugs in the country.

The meeting was held at NDLEA headquarters in Abuja and attendees included Pharm. Samuel Okwuada, CEO of Remedial Health, Victor Benjamin, COO of Remedial Health, other management staff of Remedial Health as well as key staff of NDLEA such as DCGN Hamza Umar (Director of Operations and Investigation), Femi Babafemi (Director of Media Affairs) and ACGN Hamisu Lawan (Director of Administration and Establishment).

Drug abuse and misuse is a significant public health issue in Nigeria, with an estimated 14.4% of Nigerians between the ages of 15 and 64—approximately 14.3 million people—reporting past-year drug use. This rate is nearly triple the global average of 5.5%, highlighting a severe local crisis.

By focusing on building efficient systems, Remedial Health is reducing the availability of unregulated and counterfeit drugs, a factor contributing to widespread drug misuse across communities.

During the discussions, Brg Gen. Marwa (Rtd) commended Remedial Health’s commitment to leveraging technology to streamline pharmaceutical supply chains and highlighted the importance of private-sector engagement in the fight against drug abuse.

Remedial Health’s digital platform enhances supply chain transparency and accuracy, allowing pharmacies and healthcare providers to access verified pharmaceutical products efficiently and safely.

Speaking after the event, Pharm. Samuel Okwuada, CEO and co-founder of Remedial Health, said, “Drug abuse is a critical public health issue in Nigeria, affecting millions and underscoring the urgent need for secure and transparent pharmaceutical supply chains.

At Remedial Health, we are dedicated to building systems that prevent unregulated and counterfeit drugs from reaching communities, and we believe that partnerships with organizations like the NDLEA are essential to achieving this goal. By leveraging technology to enhance transparency and compliance in drug distribution, we can help reduce misuse and ensure that Nigerians have access to safe, verified pharmaceutical products.”