WEEK 1

FAMILY BOND AND LIVING TOGETHER AS ONE FAMILY

Family Bond
Family bond (or family cohesion) refers to the emotional and warm affectionate ties that
exist among members of a family.
It is an attractive force of intimacy or friendship that exists and develops over a long
period of staying together.
The family bond is strong when members love one another.
It is reflected by the commitment, help and support that family members provide for one
another.

Importance of Family Bond

1. Self – confidence: Children that come from families that spend time together,
especially if they make time to eat together, find it easy to communicate with people
around them. They make friends easily and know how to resolve problems, by listening
to the offended party, rather than through arguments.
2. Avoidance of teenage pregnancy: when parents or guardians make time to be with
their children, they get to let them resolve problems that they experience, especially as
teenagers. For example, fathers can teach their sons how to respect girls, and mothers
can also explain to their daughters why they need to abstain from sex until after
marriage. Parents must also be patient and ready to answer all the questions that teenage
children want them to clarify.
3. Improvement in school performance: The more parents know their children’s
social network, the more the children are unlikely to have behavioral problems, and the
less they are likely to engage in violence. This way, school success is guaranteed. They
are also less likely to experience emotional stress or engage in substance abuse,
especially when the family eats dinner together or gets positive feedback frequently
from them. When this happens regularly, their confidence and perception of themselves
are fostered.

Ways of Strengthening Family Bond

1. Eating together at home or in a restaurant.
2. Reading together
3. Praying together.
4. Getting involved in the children’s hobbies
5. Attending social functions together
6. Celebrating birthdays and achievements of family members
7. Going on family vacations
8. Attending children’s open day and other school events.

Advantages of Living Together in the Family

1. Protection- Safe guarding its members and offering social security to the elderly
2. Happiness- The economic and social comfort the family provides make its member
happy
3. Unity-The family is united due to the allocation of duties and commitment of
members in carrying out their duties.
4. Education- The family owes every child an all-round education including the daily
process of socialization where every member is involved
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5. Provision of basic needs such as food, clothes and shelter for the children
6. Maintaining good family name through the teaching of norms and values of the
society to the children as well as discouraging vices that dishonour the family, e.g.
Stealing
7. Good social behaviour - Honesty, integrity, hard work, prudence, self-respect,
discipline etc. are taught in the family
8. The family also teaches conflict resolution
Family Reputation
Family reputation is the overall quality or character as seen or judged by people of a
particular family. A family with good reputation is usually respected, trusted and
recognized in the society.
Importance of Good Family Reputation
1. It gives a family a good name
2. It attracts respect from other members of the community
3. It brings about friendship between one family and the other
4. Good family reputation breeds trust and sense of responsibilities
5. It promotes good personality of the family

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WEEK 2
Purpose of Marriage
Meaning of Marriage :
Marriage is the union of a man and woman as husband and wife to start a new family. It is also
the legal union of a man and a woman to become husband and wife. It is usually established
through a ceremony according to the type of marriage. It comes with rights, duties and
responsibilities to the couple.
Types of marriage
i. Religious marriage
ii. Ordinance or court marriage
iii. Customary or traditional marriage
Religious Marriage : This is divided into two : Christian marriage and Muslim marriage
a) Christian marriage : Christian marriage and Marriage under the Act go side by side. In very
many cases, they are combined. In this case Christian marriage is considered after going
through the legal aspect.
This type of marriage is performed by pastors or priests in recognized churches, with Holy
Bible as the guide. During the ceremony, the bride and the groom exchange vows with each
other, before God and before their families and friends to love and to respect each other till
death separate them.

This marriage is monogamous because the man is not allowed to take another wife, no matter
the circumstances. At the end of the ceremony, a certificate of marriage is signed by a
clergyman, it is, in fact, the property of the government and is legally binding.
b) Muslim or Islamic marriage: This type of marriage is similar to the Christian marriage.
However, it is solemnized according to Islamic doctrine under the guide of an Imam in an
approved mosque and in the presence of the family of the couple. Like the church or Christian
marriage, a certificate duly signed by both parties, their relations and Imam is given to the
couple.

Islamic marriage is polygamous, as the man is allowed to marry up to four wives, if he can cater
for them equally and adequately. Islamic marriage is based on the injunction of the Holy Quran.

Marriage under the Marriage Act : Marriage under the Act is contracted in a marriage
registry and conducted by an appointed government official known as the marriage registrar.
Usually, it is witnessed by the relatives of the husband and wife. The certificate issued at the
end of the ceremony is signed by the marriage registrar as a legal document. It does not take
place in court.

If the couple later decide that they can no longer live together as husband and wife, they can ask
for a divorce in a court of law. Marriage under the Act cannot be dissolved until after five years
of its contract. It is also monogamous as long as it is in operation. Before Nigeria’s
independence in 1960, it was called Marriage under the Ordinance. Now it is called Marriage
under the marriage Act.

Traditional or Customary Marriage : This kind of marriage is performed according to the

tradition and customs of the people. It is usually polygamous in nature because the man can take
more than one wife, according to African tradition. It is usually the commonest form of
marriage in villages where there are people who are neither Christians nor Muslims.

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This type of marriage is conducted by local priests and elders in society. It may also involve the
payment of bride price by the husband. This could be paid either in case or by the supply of
grains or animals or both to the in – laws. It may also involve working in the farm of the girl’s
parents.

The marriage is usually concluded with rituals and ceremonies which are publicly witnessed by
the community. All the various ethnic groups in Nigeria have their customary patterns of
marriage.

Purpose of marriage
a. Marriage provides companionship which guarantees emotional stability.
b. Marriage maintains and sustains the society through procreation.
c. Marriage offers respect and dignity to the couple.
d. Marriage encourages extended relationships as different families are involved.
e. Marriage encourages inheritance and sustenance of family lineage.
f. Marriage promotes peace in the society as marriage couples are expected to be
responsible.
g. Some people marry for economic cooperation and other economic reasons.
h. To maintain social discipline and morals.
i. To provide security and happiness for the whole family.
j. Some people marry for love and affection.

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WEEK 3
Readiness in Marriage
Marriage is an important institution in society. It is ordained by God and it is a permanent
institution accepted in all societies.
Before going into a successful marriage, certain conditions must be in place. These include
physiological fitness, psychological fitness, social stability and financial readiness.
Conditions for marriage
i. Physiological fitness –This refers to physical maturity. The book of Islam says :
“Liberty is allowed a woman who has reached the age of puberty to marry” this is an
aspect of physiological fitness.

In the culture of the Efik and Ibibio people, a girl is prepared for marriage in the
fattening room (Nkuho). At this place, she is feed very well and she gets all kinds of
care so that the entire body structure becomes big enough to take a pregnancy without
much difficulty.

Among the Fulani, a boy goes through the Sharo festival. This is a test of endurance
which a person who says he is ready to marry must undergo. At the ceremony, two
people with long sticks in hand would cane the person thoroughly before the community
and the girl he proposes to marry. If he shows any kind of pain or cries while the
flogging lasts, he is not considered physiologically fit to marry.

So, in physiological fitness, both male and female must show body signs and physical
changes that they are fit to marry. These changes are easily seen in the female.

ii. Psychological fitness – Emotional stability. At puberty, the boy and the girl show signs
of being in love with someone in various ways. For example, the two of them exchange
letters which discuss intimate relationship. In some cases, they spend a lot of time
making “free calls” to one another at night. During Valentine/Lovers’ day, you find
them exchanging gifts.

iii. Social stability – Good character disposition and the ability to interact positively with
everybody. The man and woman getting married must come from families where people
share joys and sorrows, families that are known for good things in the society and whose
names are respected. These are some of the things that would assist them to choose their
friends.

They must also have education. They must have skills that will provide them a means of
livelihood. All these: family background, respect among peers, education, skills add up
to make one stable socially. They give confidence and, therefore, encourages people to
have marriages that would further make them socially stable.

iv. Financial readiness – Adequate financial resources especially a steady income stream.
This is because those who prepare to be husband and wife have many responsibilities to
shoulder. Part of the marriage vow is ‘’to love and care’’. Caring means looking after
what affects the husband and the wife.

v. Genetic considerations – Medical tests help to determine the suitability or

compatibility of couples. HIV/AIDS, genotype, hepatitis B etc. should be tested.

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Effects of lack of readiness on marriage relationships
i. The couple are unable to cater for the responsibilities of marriage.
ii. They will always fight and quarrel among themselves.
iii. Children from such marriages are often abandoned and not adequately catered for in
terms of basic needs.
iv. Divorce is often an outcome of such marriages.
v. The phenomenon of broken homes is also common.

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WEEK 4
POSITIVE GROUP BEHAVIOUR I
Meaning of group behaviour
A group is a number of persons who share a feeling of belonging and therefore interact
with one another. There are two types of groups that exist in society. These are the
primary and secondary groups.
Group behaviour on the other hand refers to the way in which people with similar traits
behave and interact, in order to achieve a common goal. It involves collective action
taken either by a small group (e.g., the family) or a large group (e.g. protesters).

Types of group behaviour

i. Communal labour: Communal labour refers to the work of a group of people who do
some jobs for a community, usually free of charge. This is done to assist community
members. It is, thus, collective efforts that bring about progress in a society.
ii. Acts of patriotism: This refers to a situation when citizens act their part nobly to
defend their country or community. In patriotic acts, citizens toil, make sacrifices, suffer
and sometimes even die to relieve the wants and pains of their community or nation.
Patriotic behaviour is a civic duty demanded of every citizen.
iii. Mass action: This refers to a situation where a large number of people react to the
occurrence of an incident. For example, when a vehicle hits a person, people around
would rally round the person—here some might have even wrongly vented their anger
by either destroying the vehicle or hurting the driver. Some good Samaritans may also
rush the accident victim to the hospital. Mass or mob action cannot be easily controlled.
iv. Protest march: This is often seen when unions embark on a protest march, usually
against a government policy that is not favourable to the masses. It can also be when
several unions, including, for example, city teachers’ union and other groups come
together on a march or a rally, usually with placards, slogans, loudspeakers and
podiums.
v. Participating in a fight: Despite its illegality, people still train and are preparing to
participate in fights. An example is youth violence where the youths participate in a
fight either in defence of their community, individual or group rights.
vi. Peaceful demonstration: Group behaviour occurs when people embark on a peaceful
demonstration to express their grievances or to fight for their rights. If, however, this is
not properly organized, it can be hijacked by hoodlums and result in violence.
vii. Cultism: This is a very negative group behaviours whereby students in our schools,
especially in higher institutions, operate secretly at night against the law made by the
school or society. Their goals are anti-social and anti-progress. Bullying among students
in school is also a negative group behaviour.
viii. Gangsterism: This is another manifestation of group behaviour. People constitute
themselves into gangs, thugs or street urchins (popularly called “Area boys”) in society.
These people engage in robbery, stealing, drug addiction, examination malpractice,
militancy, vandalism, kidnapping, killing and many other vices. All these are forms of
negative group behaviour in society.

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WEEK 5: POSITIVE GROUP BEHAVIOUR II

Characteristics of different types of group behaviour.

Group behaviour can be constructive or destructive. Constructive behaviours are ways
that get the group’s work done, or those that assist with the smooth operation of the
group. Destructive behaviours on the other hand, are ways that often result in hurting
feelings of people, or those in authority.

Characteristics of constructive group behaviour

i. The group is willing to compromise with another party in order to resolve an issue.
ii. They do not use aggression to destroy infrastructure and property of innocent
people in order to gain the attention of some individuals.
iii. It has an organizational structure and an administrative pattern.
iv. They make use of peaceful demonstrations.
v. The interest of the society, as well as of members, is of great importance.
vi. They respect government and other people’s property.

Characteristics of destructive group behaviour

i. They resort to force and violence to achieve their goals.
ii. They refuse to compromise or give in to the other party.
iii. Most times, members use the group to satisfy their personal interests.
iv. They withhold information that can be used to resolve an issue.
v. They can spread rumours about a person, an organization or the government.

Benefits of positive group behaviour

i. Companionship: People that share similar traits always feel connected to each
other. In essence, they develop a friendship that may cut across different ethnic
groups or countries. This attitude promotes understanding and unity in society.

ii. Achievements: When people work as a group they can achieve more together
than what a single individual can do, using the same resources and time. For
instance, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has been able to force the
government to reduce the price of petroleum products several times. The
Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has been able to compel government to
improve on the health facilities available in the country.

iii. Effective avenue for change: Positive group behaviour can compel government
to adopt policies and programmes that are beneficial to members of a society.
For instance, as a result of the increasing number of accidents, some
governments have banned commercial motorcycle (okada) riders from some
streets.

iv. Provision of social services: Positive group behaviour also assists in providing
social services to the public. This is because these groups have been able to assist
government and other organizations in providing social services to the public.
Examples of such groups are: Rotary Club. Lion Club, Junior Chambers
International (JCI) and the Red Cross Society of Nigeria.

v. Awareness: Positive group behaviour has been used to enlighten the masses on
some activities of certain people, ethnic groups or government that are regarded
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 as inhuman. For instance, some groups (e.g. Campaign Against Female
Mutilation) have cried against female circumcision. Other groups have made the
public aware of the high tariff we pay for calls compared to what is obtainable in
countries like South Africa and Great Britain.

vi. Security: Positive group behaviour provides security for defenceless members of
society who have been denied their human rights. These groups protect these
people from further humiliation and also help them to seek justice for the pains
they have passed through.

vii. Affiliation and status: Some groups become powerful because they are affiliated
to international organizations abroad. Also, people who display positive group
behaviour serve as role models. This is because people look up to them as human
rights defenders who help protect and speak on behalf of members of society. As
a result of their selfless service, some members have won a lot of awards, both
home and abroad

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WEEK 6
Meaning and Conséquences of Drug Abuse and Harmful Substances.
Meaning of drug use and drug abuse
A drug can be defined as a substance used for medical purposes, either alone or in a
mixture. It can also be defined as any substance that changes the way a person’s body
works, or in the way a person thinks, acts or feels.
Drug abuse is taking an illegal substance, such as cocaine or heroin, to obtain a
temporary mood of happiness or relief. In addition to taking illegal drugs, drugs abuse
also includes using legal drugs for some other purposes other than its intended use.
Cough medicines and sleeping pills are ready examples of drugs that can be abused.
Medical drugs may be ingested beyond the prescription dosage while non-medical drugs
or substances can be wrongly used in large quantities.
Drug addiction is the chronic dependence on a particular thing. An individual who uses
drugs can become dependent on them (or addicted). This means that the person’s body
becomes so accustomed to having this drug that he or she cannot function well without
it. When a person is addicted to drugs, it is very hard to stop the habit because the person
always thinks that they cannot survive without the drugs.

Types of Drugs and How They Can be Abused

Hard drugs
i. Cocaine
ii. Cannabis (also called igbo, ganja, weed, marijuana, pot)
iii. Heroin
iv. LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide)
v. PCP (Phencyclidine)
vi. Designer drugs (also called Ecstasy)
vii. Opium

1. Cocaine : Cocaine, also known as coke, is a strong stimulant most frequently

used as a recreational drug. It is commonly snorted, inhaled as smoke, or
dissolved and injected into a vein. Mental effects may include loss of contact
with reality, an intense feeling of happiness, or agitation.
What are recreational drugs?
These are chemical substances taken for enjoyment, or leisure purposes, rather than for
medical reasons
An anonymous person once said online the prices to which he had sold cocaine in
different parts of the world and these are his statement: ‘’I have bought and sold
cocaine all over the country and these are numbers I have sold and been quoted at
across purity levels by price and location. I have found that all of this varies a lot less
than you would think.
Kilo: $36,000 (raw, Maryland), $28,000 (Raw, Florida and California), $26,000 (Raw,
California), $22,000 (high purity rerock, California), $16,000 (Street, Virginia),
$30,000 (Raw, internet),

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2. Cannabis also called Igbo, ganja, weed, marijuana, pot): Cannabis, also
known as marijuana among other names, is a psychoactive drug from the
Cannabis plant used primarily for medical or recreational purposes. The main
psychoactive component of cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol, which is one of
the 483 known compounds in the plant, including at least 65 other cannabinoids

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3. Heroin: Heroin is an illegal, highly addictive drug processed from morphine, a
naturally occurring substance extracted from the seed pod of certain varieties of
poppy plants. It is typically sold as a white or brownish powder that is "cut" with
sugars, starch, powdered milk, or quinine.
How do people use heroin?
People inject, sniff, snort, or smoke heroin. Some people mix heroin with crack
cocaine, a practice called speedballing.
People who use heroin typically report feeling a surge of pleasurable sensation—
a "rush."

4. LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide): Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), also

known colloquially as acid, is a hallucinogenic drug. Effects typically include
altered thoughts, feelings, and awareness of one's surroundings. Many users see
or hear things that do not exist. Effects typically begin within half an hour and
can last for up to 12 hours.[13] It is used mainly as a recreational drug of for
spiritual reasons.

5. PCP (Phencyclidine): Phencyclidine or phenylcyclohexyl piperidine, also known

as angel dust among other names, is a drug used for its mind-altering effects.
PCP may cause hallucinations, distorted perceptions of sounds, and violent
behavior. As a recreational drug, it is typically smoked, but may be taken by
mouth, snorted, or injected.

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 6. Designer drugs (also called Ecstasy): The term “designer drugs” refers to drugs
that are created in a laboratory (typically, an “underground,” or secret, illegal
lab). A designer drug is created by changing the properties of a drug that comes
from a plant—such as cocaine, morphine, or marijuana—using the tools of
chemistry. These drugs may also be referred to as “club drugs” because of their
use in night clubs. Since many designer drugs are created in illegal labs, their
ingredients and potency (how strong they are) vary a lot, making it nearly
impossible to know what is actually in them or what they can do to you. For
example, Ecstasy tablets are often contaminated with other things, like
ephedrine (used to treat allergies and asthma), ketamine (an injected anesthetic
given for minor surgeries), and methamphetamine (another illicit drug).
It is not surprising that these unknown mixtures can cause dangerous side effects, such
as seizures, memory loss, coma and even death.

7. Opium: opium is processed chemically to produce heroin and other synthetic

opioids for medicinal use and for illegal drug trade.

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WEEK 7
Meaning and Conséquences of Drug Abuse and Harmful Substances.

Prescription drugs/common medicines that can be Abused

The following prescription drugs can be abused when used in excess or without
prescription from a doctor:
1. Paracetamol
2. Amphetamine
3. Sleep medications (e.g. valium)
4. Cough syrup (especially those that contain codeine)
5. Barbiturates (used to treat sleep disorders and epilepsy)
6. Vicodin (often prescribed after a surgery)

Causes of Drug Abuse

1. Curiosity
2. Peer group influence
3. Lack of parental supervision
4. Drug availability
5. Misinformation
6. Self – medication
7. The need for energy to work long hours
8. Media
9. Self – confidence
10. Poverty and unemployment

Signs and Symptoms of drug abuse

i. They are in possession of drug-related items such as pipes, rolling paper, small
decongestants.
ii. They experience loss of interest in school activities.
iii. They sleep a lot (even in class).
iv. They have red or puffy eyes.
v. They always get into fights with people.
vi. They experience difficulty with concentration.
vii. They tend to be absent from school.
viii. Their performance in schoolwork is poor.
ix. They experience occasional vomiting.

Effects of drug abuse.

The following are some of the consequences of drug abuse.
Physical effects
People who abuse drugs experience a wide range of physical effects as in the following examples:
i. Injecting cocaine into the body can give you hepatitis B or C, HIV/AIDS if you
share needles with other users.
ii. Abuse of alcohol can cause liver, brain damage and madness.

14
 iii. Drug abuse can cause different types of cancer: lung, breast, mouth, oesophagus,
and stomach.
iv. People who abuse drugs may age faster and prematurely.
v. They can die from heart attacks and stroke.
vi. Drugs like ecstasy can lead to dehydration and kidney problems.
vii. Substances used during pregnancy can harm the unborn baby.
viii. Their resistance to diseases may become reduced.
ix. They may die prematurely, sometimes through suicide.
Social effects
i. Marital problems: When a man is on drugs, he will always quarrel with people
around him. High intoxication may give him health problems or he may batter his
wife and children.
ii. Divorce: Many couples have ended their marriage on discovering that their partner
is a drug addict. Some opt for divorce so that their children do not take over the bad
attitude of their drug addict spouse. Others end the marriage to avoid the stigma and
shame of being called the husband or wife of a drug addict.
iii. Financial difficulty: Drug addicts are always looking for money to buy more
supplies of the drug. Others steal or borrow money from people under the guise of
repaying back the loan, which most times they never do. Some even sell their
valuable possessions such as phones and jewellery at a very low price to buy more
drugs. In essence, buying more drugs becomes more important to the drug addict
than meeting his daily responsibility.
iv. Job loss: Drug users are more likely to have occupational accidents, endangering
themselves and those around them than non-users. Drug abuse can also lead to
unexplained absence from work and eventually job loss.
v. Crime: Drug-related crimes can disrupt neighbourhoods due to violence among drug
dealers, threats to residents and crimes of the addict. More so, female drug addicts
are prone to rape while many of the men end up in prison for drug related crimes
especially the selling of drugs to underage children.
vi. Isolation: When a person is high on drugs, he isolates himself from everyone around
him eventually making his drugs his only companion. Parents also advise their
children not to play with a drug addict as he/she is a bad influence. Some drug
addicts have also been thrown out of their houses while others have been disowned
by their parents.
vii. Suspension/dismissal from school: Children who are drug addicts do not have good
grades in school. They always pick fights with other children, or steal from them in
order to buy more drugs. Such children are usually dismissed by the school
authorities or suspended. This is because they are regarded as a threat or bad
influence on other children in the school.

Consequences of drug abuse on national and international communities.

i. Social instability: Foreign and domestic investors see crime as a sign of social
instability. Drugs and crime drive up the cost of doing business, thus undermining
economic and social development. Foreign investors tend to withhold investments in
an economy that cannot guarantee healthy returns on their investments as a result of
instability brought about by criminality.
ii. Denial of visa: Drug addicts are usually denied entry into other countries, especially
to foreign countries. This is because they are regarded as threats; they may be in
possession of hard drugs which they intend to sell to make money.
iii. Financial loss to business: Employees who abuse drugs sometimes steal cash or
supplies, equipment and products that can be sold to get more money to buy more

15
drugs. Some have rendered their companies bankrupt, and employees jobless because
of this reckless act.

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WEEK 8
Prevention/Solutions to Drug Abuse
i. Role of Parents: Parents should teach their children good moral values. They should
also endeavor to know who their children’s friends are. Also, they should teach their
children the dangers of drug abuse and how drug dependence can affect their health,
society and the nation. Parents should live exemplary lives and avoid such activities as
smoking, drinking and buying or selling of hard drugs which the children can easily
imitate.

ii. Establishments of counselling centres for drug control: Counselling centres should be
established in every community by the government in collaboration with private
individuals. Qualified health counsellors should be engaged to help drug addicts or those
dependent on drugs by giving them special advice on how to quit the habit.

iii. Designing a curricula on drug education: The Ministry of Education (at state and
federal levels) should as a matter of urgency, add drug education to the curricula at all
levels of education.

iv. Campaign against drug abuse: The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency
(NDLEA) should intensify the anti-drug campaigns in order to make our society drug-
free. The campaign against the use and misuse of certain drugs should be intensified in
secondary schools, because it is there that there is a concentration of adolescents, to stem
the tide of drug abuse and drug dependence.

v. Busy schedules for students: Teens that go for football or basketball practice, music
clubs, drama and dance classes, or other structured activities are less likely to get
involved in drugs. They learn life skills such as teamwork, time management, and hard
work from these activities.

vi. Rehabilitation centres: Drug addicts should be taken to rehabilitation centres, where
trained professionals will help them to stop the addiction. This is because it is very
difficult to stop the addiction alone. In rehabilitation centres, such individuals develop
new effective skills for dealing with life. They also help build their self-esteem which
they would need in order to live a new and fulfilled life.

vii. Role of the school: Security measures should be put in place to eliminate the
presence of hard drugs and alcohol from school premises. This can be done by installing
CCTV cameras in classrooms and in other areas, especially dark corners, where students
are likely to hang out together. Teachers should also be instructed to teach students
about the effects of consuming drugs. They should also be help them develop skills
(assertive skills) and attitudes that will keep them away from drugs. Also, students who
have been caught abusing drugs should be referred to a professional for help.

viii. Role of the government: The government should embark on public enlightenment
campaigns against the consumption of hard drugs and alcohol, using billboards,
radio/TV jingles, pamphlets, etc. They should also implement stiffer penalties for drug
use and drug dealing. They should also create jobs for the unemployed youths. The
government must work closely with international agencies to combat drug trafficking
and drug abuse.

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 ix. Checkups: Monthly medical checkups and drug tests will help tremendously in
solving or preventing drug abuse. Also, the consent of a doctor should be sought before
the prolonged use of a particular drug.
Activities of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Agency
NAFDAC is a federal agency under the Federal Ministry of Health. It was established in
January 1993 by General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida and has its Headquarters in Abuja. It is
responsible for regulating and controlling the manufacture, import, export, advertisement,
distribution, sale and use of foods, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals and packaged
water. The agency does the following :
i. Inspects imported food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water and chemicals
and the places where they are produced.
ii. Gives specifications, regulations and guidelines for the production, importation,
exportation and sale of drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water and chemicals.
iii. Registers food, drugs, medical devices, bottled water and chemicals.
iv. Controls the export of, and issues quality certification of food, drugs, medical devices,
bottled water and chemicals.
v. Establishes and maintains relevant laboratories in strategic areas of Nigeria, to enable it
to carry out its functions.
vi. Ensures that the use of narcotic drugs (hard drugs) and psychotropic drugs are limited to
medical use by medical experts.Works with the NDLEA to eradicate drug abuse in Nigeria.
vii. Advises the federal, state and local governments, private organizations and others who
may be interested on the quality of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water
and chemicals.
viii. Provides guidelines on, and approves and monitors the advertisement of food, drugs,
cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water and chemicals.
ix. Sponsors national and international conferences which it deems appropriate.

Activities of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency is a Federal agency in Nigeria charged with
eliminating the growing, processing, manufacturing, selling, exporting, and trafficking of hard
drugs. The agency was established by Decree Number 48 of 1989 by General Ibrahim
Badamosi Babangida and has its headquarters in Lagos. The agency performs the following
functions:
i. The NDLEA enforces laws against the cultivation, processing, sale, trafficking and use of
hard drugs.
ii. The agency also investigates people who are suspected to have dealings with hard drugs.
iii. If and when officials of the NDLEA find substances suspected to be hard drugs on a suspect
or/and when they find such substances at a place, they will examine the substances. If after a
thorough examination the substances are found to be hard drugs, the agency will arrest and
prosecute the suspect(s) and eventually destroy the substances.
iv. The agency adopts measures to eradicate the illicit cultivation of narcotic plants and to
eradicate the demand for such plants.
v. The NDLEA takes actions to prevent and eliminate the causes of the problem of narcotic drugs.
vi. Officials of the agency educate the public on the effects of hard drugs on individuals and on
the nation.

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