Twelve drug treatment and rehabilitation centres across ten ECOWAS member states have received renovation and equipment upgrades, and more than 300 health and allied professionals have been trained in evidence-based prevention and treatment, the ECOWAS Commission said at a regional conference in Abuja.
The figures were given as of September 2026.
The disclosure came at the 16th Biennial International Conference on Drugs, Alcohol and Society in Africa, convened by the ECOWAS Commission with the Centre for Research and Information on Substance Abuse (CRISA) and held on 21 and 22 October 2026.
The conference theme was “Substance Use Research and Data Systems in Africa: Advances, Relevance and Challenges.”
Dr. Daniel Amankwaah, Head of the ECOWAS Drug Prevention and Control Division, delivered the statement on behalf of the ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, Prof. Nassirou Bako-Arifari.
According to the account, he pointed to growing public health and security challenges linked to substance use and illicit drug trafficking.
Amankwaah also described ECOWAS work on Alternatives to Incarceration, which the Commission frames as promoting treatment, rehabilitation and social reintegration for eligible people who use drugs and come into contact with the criminal justice system.
He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to strengthening regional data through the West African Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (WENDU).
Speaking for CRISA, Prof. Gboyega Abikoye expressed satisfaction with the Centre’s achievements over more than 30 years, citing its work in substance use research, information sharing on alcohol use and abuse, and the organisation of workshops and conferences.
Dr. Akanidomo Ibanga, a Project Management Support Specialist at UNODC, delivered remarks on behalf of the UNODC Country Representative in Nigeria, Cheikh Touré.
Participants were urged to bridge the gap between research and policymaking, with the emphasis that evidence must inform government decisions, resource allocation, prevention programmes and access to quality treatment and care.
The programme includes country-level drug situation reports, panel discussions and research presentations, among them a study on alternatives to incarceration for people who use drugs in Nigeria.
The conference brought together researchers, policymakers, public health professionals and development partners to examine emerging drug trends, strengthen data systems and develop practical recommendations for prevention, treatment and rehabilitation.
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