BY LYDIA IBRAHIM GASI, AUGUST 26, 2026 | 03:13 PM

Drug abuse is no longer a problem discussed only in newspapers, public campaigns, or government reports. Across many Nigerian universities, it has become a quiet reality that students see, hear about, and sometimes live with every day.

At the University of Maiduguri, many students say the issue persists behind closed doors, hidden by fear, stigma, and silence. While the university maintains strict disciplinary measures and anti-drug campaigns, students believe the problem has simply become less visible rather than disappearing.

The open secret

As lectures end each day, hundreds of students return to hostels across the University of Maiduguri. Some head to reading rooms, while others gather with friends outside their hostels.

But as evening falls, another side of campus life quietly emerges.

Around secluded corners of some hostels and off-campus student lodges, the smell of cannabis sometimes hangs in the air.

Conversations about tramadol, codeine syrup, and other substances are often spoken in whispers rather than openly.

Students say they have seen it, heard about it, or know someone affected by it, yet very few are willing to speak publicly.

'I see it almost every day,' Aisha*, a female student, said.

'People know where it happens, but nobody wants to talk because they're afraid.'

She said many students fear being labeled informants, while others worry that speaking out could expose them to harassment or unwanted attention from university authorities.

As a result, many students describe drug abuse as one of the least discussed but most visible problems on campus.

Although the university continues to enforce disciplinary measures and organize anti-drug campaigns, several students believe awareness alone is no longer enough.

For them, the question is no longer whether drug abuse exists on campus but why some students continue to abuse drugs despite knowing the consequences.

A growing national concern

The experiences shared by students reflect a wider national challenge.

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), about 14.3 million Nigerians between the ages of 15 and 64 use drugs, representing 14.4 percent of the country's population, nearly three times the global average.

Young adults account for a significant proportion of those affected, placing university students among the most vulnerable groups.

Experts attribute the problem to academic pressure, financial hardship, peer influence, emotional distress, and the freedom that comes with living away from home for the first time.

The World Health Organization (WHO) also identifies social, psychological, and environmental factors as major drivers of substance abuse among young people.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has repeatedly warned that schools and universities remain vulnerable to drug abuse and trafficking.

Although the agency has partnered with tertiary institutions to promote awareness and establish anti-drug clubs, many students believe the problem has become more difficult to detect rather than less common.

Hidden in plain sight

'Drug abuse is not something we only read about in newspapers or hear during awareness campaigns,' Mary*, a female student, said.

'It is something we encounter in our everyday lives.'

She said fear prevents many students from reporting what they know.

'If you report someone, they may find out it was you,' she said.

'Some people are also afraid the university might drag them into investigations, so everyone keeps quiet.'

Another female student, Zainab*, said drug use has become less visible because many users have moved to places where they are less likely to be noticed.

'You don't usually see them in open places anymore,' she said.

'It mostly happens in hidden areas around the hostels and sometimes in off-campus lodges. If you know those places, you'll know it still happens.'

She also said drug abuse is no longer limited to male students.

'Some girls also take drugs,' she said.

'Some are influenced by friends or relationships, while others do it because they are dealing with personal problems. They just want to feel better for a while.'

According to her, emotional stress, family challenges, and academic pressure have become common reasons some students turn to drugs.

'People are carrying different burdens,' she said.

'Some don't know who to talk to, so they look for something that helps them forget, even if it's only for a short time.'

A male student, Ibrahim*, described drug abuse as 'an open secret.'

'Even if you don't see it every day, you know it exists,' he said.

'Students talk about it. Everybody knows there are people using drugs on campus.'

He said terms such as 'Loud,' 'Colorado,' and 'Ice' have become familiar among students, even among those who have never used the substances.

Another student, David*, recalled witnessing a disturbing incident near one of the hostels.

'A student suddenly lost control and fell,' he said.

'People gathered because they didn't know what had happened. Some students poured water on him until he became conscious again. It was frightening.'

He said incidents like that have left many students worried.

'Sometimes you see people acting aggressively or talking to themselves,' he said.

'Other times they look completely disconnected from what is happening around them. It makes other students uncomfortable.'

Searching for escape

Many students described the struggle to balance lectures, assignments, tests, and examinations with financial difficulties and uncertainty about the future.

'Some students think drugs will help them stay awake and read throughout the night,' one student said.

'Others just want to escape from stress for a few hours.'

Another student, Christiana*, pointed to family expectations.

'Some parents expect excellent results all the time,' she said.

'Some students are even studying courses they never wanted. That pressure affects people differently.'

She added that the real question is not whether students know drugs are dangerous.

'Everybody knows drugs are dangerous,' she said.

'The bigger question is why people still decide to use them.'

Several students also argued that fear of punishment discourages users from seeking help.

'Some people need counseling,' another student said.

'But because they're afraid of being suspended or expelled, they keep everything to themselves.'

The university's response: 'We are not looking away'

The Dean of Student Affairs, Professor Ahmadu M. Brono, said the university operates a zero-tolerance policy against hard drugs and has strengthened surveillance and disciplinary measures.

According to him, the university distinguishes between legal substances such as cigarettes and prohibited narcotics.

He explained that while cigarettes are not illegal under Nigerian law, smoking in classrooms or places where it disturbs others violates university regulations.

However, cannabis, methamphetamine, cocaine, and other narcotics remain strictly prohibited.

'Once a student is found using or selling hard drugs, the matter is referred to the Students' Disciplinary Committee,' he said.

'Depending on the findings, the penalties can include suspension or expulsion.'

Brono said the university has also introduced measures to curb drug-related activities in student hostels.

One of those measures, he said, involved changing hostel room allocations to disrupt existing networks.

He said the strategy has contributed to a decline in reported drug-related incidents.

The university also works closely with security personnel and intelligence officers to monitor suspicious activities.

'We cannot eliminate crime completely,' he said.

'Our responsibility is to reduce it as much as possible and ensure that the campus remains safe for students.'

He acknowledged that managing a large student population remains challenging because many students live both on and off campus.

According to him, continuous surveillance, intelligence gathering, and collaboration with security agencies remain necessary.

Beyond awareness

Drug abuse among young people continues to affect not only those who use drugs but also roommates, classmates, families, and the wider university community.

Although awareness campaigns and disciplinary measures remain in place, conversations among students suggest the problem has not disappeared.

Instead, many believe it has become quieter, hidden behind fear, stigma, and silence.

Several students said lasting progress will require more than punishment alone.

While those involved in drug trafficking and distribution should face the consequences of their actions, they believe students battling addiction also need access to counseling, rehabilitation, and early intervention.

Until that balance is achieved, many students say campus drug abuse will remain an open secret—widely known, quietly discussed, and rarely confronted.

***Names marked with an asterisk () have been changed to protect the identities of the sources.****