The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the National Substance Use Survey in Nigeria, as Vice President Kashim Shettima declared that the initiative will be fully owned and driven by the government due to its importance to national survival and youth development.
Speaking on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa during the signing of a letter of acceptance for cooperation between the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the MTN Nigeria Foundation, and the Federal Government, the Vice President said the findings of the survey must go beyond documentation to directly inform policy decisions.
He stated that the government expects a comprehensive final report by the first quarter of next year, stressing that the outcome must serve as actionable policy input.
“We expect the findings to land as policy inputs, not as documents, and we expect a full and final report no later than the first quarter of next year,” he said.
Shettima further explained that the Office of the Vice President would play an active, non-ceremonial role in the process, including the establishment of a Project Management Office (PMO) to oversee government participation at every stage of the exercise.
According to him, the PMO will coordinate questionnaire design, field oversight, inter-agency collaboration, and the eventual deployment of the survey findings to ensure effective intervention strategies at local government level.
“We are in this for the outcome because the survey report will provide relevant authorities with granular local government data required to design and implement critical interventions,” he added.
He also commended the collaboration between UNODC and MTN Nigeria Foundation, describing it as a model of private sector engagement in national development.
Earlier, Executive Director of MTN Nigeria Foundation, Mrs. Odunayo Sanya, said the initiative is aimed at strengthening efforts to safeguard the future of Nigeria’s youth through data-driven interventions, noting that the survey will be conducted comprehensively at the local government level.
She reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment to the project, highlighting its alignment with ongoing development programmes across the country.
On his part, the UNODC Country Representative, Cheikh Ousmane Toure, described the partnership as a strong demonstration of Nigeria’s resolve to address drug abuse and related challenges, commending the leadership and coordination driving the initiative.
He added that the UNODC would contribute technical expertise and remain fully engaged throughout the project, describing it as the beginning of a stronger strategic collaboration between government, the private sector, and the United Nations system.
Also present at the event were the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, and a non-executive director of the MTN Nigeria Foundation Board, Mr. Simon Aranonu, among others.
