Hundreds of Lagos residents, civil society groups, and government agencies took to the streets on Saturday, June 21, as part of the 2025 Anti-Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP) advocacy walk, spearheaded by MTN Foundation in partnership with the Lagos State Government and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The walk, which commenced at Alao Aka Bashorun Garden in Gbagada and ended at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), drew participants from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Nigerian Immigration Services, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), student leaders, and community activists. Their unified message: Invest in prevention.
Speaking at the rally, the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs.) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, raised alarm over the increasing rate of alcohol and drug exposure among young children.
“We have children as young as five years old taking alcohol,” she said. “It starts with one sip, and before long, their destiny is in jeopardy. Prevention is cheaper than rehabilitation.”
Chairman of the MTN Foundation, Dr. Mosun Belo-Olusoga, emphasized the collective responsibility of families and communities in curbing substance abuse.
“It is everybody’s business to fight this crisis,” she said. “We must be vigilant and act on the early warning signs.”
Commander Abubakar Liman Wali of the NDLEA Lagos Command reiterated the agency’s commitment to prevention and youth outreach, noting that substance abuse threatens not just individuals but national stability.
One of the day’s most moving moments came from Nnamdi Akikodi, a young man in recovery, who shared his battle with addiction.
“I became psychotic. That was the turning point. I lost my sanity,” he said, urging others to seek support early.
Also on the panel was psychologist Dr. Itunuoluwa Onifade, who advised youths to be emotionally self-aware and develop coping strategies before stress spirals into dependency.
The event concluded with a pledge to take the anti-drug message into schools and communities. MTN Foundation says it aims to train over 86,000 students and 1,500 teachers nationwide as part of this year’s campaign.
