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By Christopher Oji
Students of Niger College, Benin City, received a strong warning against drug abuse on Tuesday as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Edo State Command and the Edo State Government took their anti-drug campaign directly to them.
The sensitisation programme was held ahead of the 2026 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, observed globally on June 26, with this year’s United Nations theme: “The World Drug Problem: Persisting Issues, New Challenges, Innovative Responses.”
Addressing the students, Edo State NDLEA Commander, Mitchell Ofoyeju, delivered a presentation titled “Choose Your Future: Say No to Drugs.”
Engaging students with questions about commonly abused substances such as Colorado (Colos), Mkpuru Mmiri (Ice), codeine syrup, tramadol and Rohypnol, Ofoyeju used simple analogies to explain the dangers of drug abuse.
“Your brain is like your phone’s processor, while drugs are the virus,” he said. “They cause memory loss, poor judgment, addiction and mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression. Your brain continues to develop until about age 25. If you damage it now with drugs, achieving your WAEC, NECO and university ambitions may become difficult.”
He outlined three major consequences of drug abuse: damage to vital organs such as the lungs, heart, kidneys and liver; expulsion from school or imprisonment for drug-related offences; and the deceptive tactics often used to lure young people into substance abuse.
The commander also taught the students the “Five Ds” for resisting drug use: Delay, Deflect, Decline, Distance and Disclose.
He informed them that NDLEA’s counselling and treatment services are free, confidential and non-judgmental, accessible through its toll-free helpline.
The session concluded with more than 300 students chanting: “My Life, My Future, No Drugs!”
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Also speaking at the event, the Senior Special Assistant to the Edo State Governor on Drug Policy and Trafficking Control, Hon. Andrew Efe, reiterated Governor Monday Okpebholo’s zero-tolerance stance on drug trafficking and substance abuse.
“Let me speak to you as a father and as a government official,” Efe said. “One wrong decision in SS2 can jeopardise your SS3 results and university admission. Tramadol and codeine dull the mind. The only ‘high’ that lasts is the satisfaction of passing your examinations and making your parents proud.”
He urged students to see themselves as future leaders of Edo State and encouraged them to report anyone offering drugs in schools or through social media platforms.
Efe also pledged the state’s continued partnership with the NDLEA on youth empowerment initiatives and school-based drug prevention programmes.
The Principal of Niger College, Dr. Godwin Idemudia, commended the NDLEA and the state government for bringing the campaign to the school.
“This talk came at the right time. Our students need to hear the truth about substances like Colos and Mkpuru Mmiri before traffickers reach them,” he said.
Some students who spoke after the programme said the “Two Roads” illustration used during the presentation had changed their perspective.
“I now understand that saying ‘No’ makes you strong, not weak,” said Osas, an SS2 student.
The NDLEA Edo State Command reaffirmed its commitment to taking the “Choose Your Future” campaign to all 18 local government areas, churches, mosques and motor parks across the state in 2026 as part of efforts to combat drug abuse and trafficking.
