Northern Nigeria Has Highest Number Of Drug Cases, Records 274.22% Increase In 2019 – NBS

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), has disclosed that northern Nigeria has recorded a significant sharp rise of hard drug consumption and seizure in that region.

Brandnewsday gathers that as against the 163,684.44kg recorded in 2018, northern Nigeria has recorded a farthest surge of 612,547.89kg quantity of the narcotic drug seized in 2019.

According to the NBS, 612,547.89kg quantity of the narcotic drug was seized in 2019 as against 163,684.44kg seized in 2018 which represents an increase of 274.22%.

Northern Nigeria

Despite the significant increase in the number of cases and drug seizures, the 9,479 suspects arrested in 2019 was a number marginally lower than the 9,779 arrested in 2018 which represents a decrease of -3.07%.

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In furtherance of this, the Drug Seizure and Arrest Statistics 2019 published on Thursday, August 27, 2020, revealed that 86% of drug cases in Nigeria in 2019 were recorded in the northern region.

Drug Cases (Regional Breakdown)

North-Central – 517,711.69 cases
South-West – 44,744.13 cases
South-South – 28,885.85 cases
South-East – 13,234.48 Drug cases
North-West – 11,968.50 cases
North-East – 4,490.81 cases

A total of 397 counselling cases were reported in 2019 as against 730 in 2018 while 397 counselling were concluded in 2019 as against 440 in 2018.

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