Mental Health Expert Urges FG to Declare Emergency Over Rising Substance Abuse

A Consultant Psychiatrist at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, Dr Abayomi Olajide, has called on the Nigerian Government to declare a state of emergency on substance abuse, warning that the growing problem is worsening the country’s mental health crisis.

Olajide, who is also the Chairman of the Mental Health Action Committee in Ogun State, made the call during a mental health awareness walk organised to commemorate the 2026 World Mental Health Day.

The event was organised by the Association of Resident Doctors of the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Aro, in collaboration with Edijalo Health Services.

The psychiatrist described the mental health situation in Nigeria as reaching epidemic proportions, attributing the increase to economic hardship, unemployment, insecurity, poverty and other social challenges affecting Nigerians.

According to him, the number of people experiencing mental health difficulties may have increased significantly as a result of worsening economic conditions and social problems.

Olajide also expressed concern about limited access to mental healthcare in the country, noting that fewer than 10 per cent of people in need of such services have access to adequate care.

He stressed that many patients continue to pay for treatment from their personal resources because mental healthcare is still inadequately covered by health insurance.

The psychiatrist said stronger government intervention was urgently required to improve access to mental health services, increase funding and ensure that people living with mental health conditions receive appropriate treatment and support.

Speaking about the growing prevalence of substance abuse, particularly following the discovery of a methamphetamine laboratory in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Olajide described the situation as alarming.

He urged the government to treat substance abuse as a national emergency, warning that substance use disorders were increasingly common among patients seeking treatment in mental health facilities.

Olajide further expressed concern about the growing exposure of young Nigerians to substances such as codeine and other drugs, particularly among secondary school students.

He said the problem was no longer restricted to adult males, stressing that young people and women were also increasingly involved in substance use.

He called for early intervention, rehabilitation and reintegration programmes for people battling addiction, while urging authorities and communities to identify vulnerable young people before substance use develops into severe addiction.

The psychiatrist also advocated a coordinated approach involving government agencies, schools, healthcare providers, families, communities and other stakeholders to address the problem.

Also speaking, the Acting Provost and Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Sunday Amosu, said the growing burden of mental health conditions required urgent and collective action.

Amosu noted that recent estimates suggested that as many as one in seven Nigerians could be living with a mental health condition, describing the figure as a major public health concern.

He used schizophrenia to illustrate the scale of the challenge, noting that if about one per cent of a population of approximately 250 million people were affected, the number would amount to about 2.5 million people.

He therefore called for greater involvement from government institutions, families, religious organisations, non-governmental organisations and individuals in addressing mental health challenges.

The President of the Resident Doctors Association, Dr Chidi Ikwumezie, said the awareness walk represented the first phase of the hospital’s activities marking the 2026 World Mental Health Day.

He said the theme of this year’s celebration, “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices. Real Change,” was aimed at encouraging society to listen to people living with mental health challenges, confront stigma and translate conversations about mental health into practical action.

Ikwumezie explained that the decision to hold the awareness walk at a motor park was deliberate, as it allowed the medical team to interact directly with people from different backgrounds within the community.

World Mental Health Day is observed annually on October 10 and provides an opportunity to raise awareness about mental health, promote access to care and encourage efforts to reduce stigma surrounding mental health conditions.

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