UN raises concern over spate of Tramadol abuse in Nigeria

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) says Nigeria, West and Central Africa face “disruptive” new trends regarding drug trafficking and abuse.

Yury Fedotov, executive director of UNODC, said this while briefing the UN security council session, presided by Côte d’Ivoire.

The briefing was the council’s first thematic meeting on ‘Drug Trafficking and its Threat to Stability, Peace and Security’, since December 2013.

Fedotov said the UNODC’s 2018 World Drug Report shows that West and Central Africa, along with North African countries, accounted for 87 percent of pharmaceutical opioids seized globally.

The UNODC chief said: “This is largely due to rising use of tramadol, an opioid painkiller that is widely trafficked for non-medical use in the region.

“Africa, along with Asia, also saw the largest rises in cocaine seizures, suggesting that cocaine trafficking and consumption have spread to these markets.

“Through UNODC AIRCOP, which works in several African airports, we know that heroin seizures are on the rise across the region with Lagos, Accra and Cotonou airports high on the list, closely followed by Bamako, Lomé and Ouagadougou.

“Methamphetamine seizures have now almost reached the same level as cocaine seizures, with Lagos and Cotonou being the main airports concerned.

“Recently, an increased number of seizures of precursors such as Ephedrine and Phenacetine has been recorded at both airports, which may indicate the existence of new laboratories producing psychoactive substances.”

The head of UNODC noted increasing transiting of opiates through West Africa en route to European and North American markets.

“UNODC is registering new alarming trends on drug trafficking in West and Central Africa with disruptive and destabilising effects on governance, security, economic growth and public health,” he said.

Drug use is also rising across the region, “representing a serious threat to public health,” according to the UN chief.

Fedotov noted that the agency estimated that in 2016, there were more than 34 million cannabis users and 1.8 million cocaine users in West and Central Africa.

Only one in 18 drug users with addiction issues have access to medical treatment, Fedotov regretted.