Nigeria’s Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to spearheading a comprehensive national survey on substance use, describing the initiative as vital to the nation’s survival.
Speaking on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa during the formal signing of the letter of acceptance for cooperation between the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the MTN Nigeria Foundation, the Vice President emphasized that the administration is prepared to take full ownership and leadership of the project.
Senator Shettima underscored that the government’s involvement is far from ceremonial, revealing plans to establish a dedicated Project Management Office (PMO) within the Office of the Vice President.
This PMO will coordinate government participation across every stage of the survey, from questionnaire design and field oversight to the eventual utilization of the findings.
He stressed that the administration expects the final report no later than the first quarter of next year, with the intent of translating granular local government data into immediate and effective policy interventions.
In her remarks, the Executive Director of the MTN Nigeria Foundation, Mrs. Odunayo Sanya, noted that the initiative aligns with the foundation’s broader mission to preserve the future of Nigeria’s youth through strategic national development.
She assured stakeholders that the survey would be comprehensive and grounded at the grassroots level.
This sentiment was echoed by the UNODC Country Representative, Cheikh Ousmane Toure, who lauded the partnership as a powerful signal of Nigeria’s determination to combat drug abuse under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.
