A consultant psychiatrist at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, Dr Abayomi Oluseyi Olajide, has called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on substance abuse in Nigeria.
Olajide made the call on Wednesday in Abeokuta during the Mental Health Awareness Walk Rally organised by the Association of Resident Doctors, Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, in collaboration with Edijalo Health Services LTD to mark the 2026 World Mental Health Day.
Speaking with DAILY POST, Olajide said 90 percent of bed spaces in psychiatric hospitals, both private and public, are currently occupied by patients with substance use disorder.
He said the situation has become alarming, with secondary school students, commercial drivers and even females increasingly involved in drug abuse.
“When you walk into any mental health facility, 90 percent occupancy of bed spaces is from substance use disorder. When you look at secondary school students, by the time they get to JSS3, SS1, the level of use is high,” he said.
“When you go to parks and garages, a lot of people cannot function without using substance and it is not just men, even females are involved.”
The psychiatrist, who is also the chairman of the Mental Health Action Committee in Ogun State, said tackling the menace requires a multi-pronged approach.
He called for drug prevention programmes in primary and secondary schools, universities and polytechnics, as well as support groups for those experimenting with drugs and full rehabilitation and reintegration for addicts.
Olajide decried the rising mental health crisis in the country, describing it as an epidemic fueled by economic hardship, unemployment, insecurity, kidnapping and poverty.
The psychiatrist lamented that less than 10 percent of Nigerians with mental health challenges have access to care, with most treatment paid out-of-pocket as health insurance does not adequately cover mental health.
He urged government, stakeholders and the media to intensify awareness and push for full implementation of the Mental Health Act.
Also speaking, the Acting Provost and Medical Director of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, Dr Sunday Amosun, identified poor sleep as the earliest sign of mental health problems and urged Nigerians to seek medical help when experiencing persistent sleep disturbances, racing thoughts or hearing voices.
On drug abuse, Amosun said the trend has worsened beyond cocaine and heroin to include sniffing of pit latrines, glue, petrol, turpentine, kerosene and synthetic cannabis such as Colorado, Arizona and Loud, as well as ice, methamphetamine and amphetamine-type substances.
He noted that Nigeria’s position as a drug transit route has exposed young people to illicit substances, calling for collective action from parents, families, religious bodies, NGOs and government.
Amosun also explained that while some people may be predisposed to mental illness due to family history, economic hardship, job loss, stigma and social isolation often serve as precipitating and perpetuating factors.
Meanwhile, the president of the ARD Aro, Abeokuta, Dr Chidi Ikwumezie, said the choice of Ita-Oshin Motor Park was a deliberate move to take the campaign and healthcare to a busy community space where people live and work, rather than waiting for them to come to the hospital.
He disclosed that the second phase will be a free medical outreach on Saturday, October 10, 2026, by 9:00 a.m. at Ita-Oshin Motor Park, featuring physical and mental health screenings, consultations, counselling, health education, free medications and referrals.
Declare state of emergency on drug abuse – Ogun psychiatrist tells FG