National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has commenced nationwide training for its counselors to standardize rehabilitation practices and strengthen clinical competencies in line with global best practices.
The Phase One training, which began at the NDLEA Academy in Jos, Plateau State, is being coordinated by the Directorate of Counseling, Treatment and Rehabilitation (DCTR) and has brought together more than 100 counselors from the Agency’s formations across the country.
The initiative is the first Agency-driven capacity-building programme of its kind for NDLEA counselors in several years and is aimed at revitalizing staff morale while equipping personnel with modern therapeutic tools to address the evolving challenges of substance use disorders.
Speaking at the commencement of the training, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), represented by the Director, Counseling, Treatment and Rehabilitation, ACGN Bashir Ibrahim, described the exercise as critical to strengthening the rehabilitation pillar of the Agency’s mandate.
Marwa said the programme would ensure that clients receiving treatment in NDLEA facilities benefit from evidence-based and quality interventions.
He said the training would harmonise counseling practices through uniform protocols across state command rehabilitation facilities, while enhancing the clinical capacity of counselors to manage emerging psychoactive substances and co-occurring mental health disorders.
The NDLEA chairman added that the programme would align the Agency’s rehabilitation practices with national and international standards, while strengthening ethics, confidentiality, quality assurance and data management for evidence-based policymaking.
Other objectives, he said, include promoting continuous professional development through peer review and clinical supervision, as well as improving rehabilitation outcomes by reducing inconsistencies in service delivery.
According to Marwa, the initiative reflects the Agency’s commitment to building a resilient and well-equipped counseling workforce capable of responding effectively to Nigeria’s drug demand reduction challenges.
He assured that the NDLEA would continue to invest in personnel development as part of its holistic approach to combating drug abuse and reducing both the supply and demand for illicit substances in Nigeria.
He said the training is expected to improve the quality of care delivered across NDLEA rehabilitation facilities and further strengthen the country’s drug treatment and rehabilitation architecture.
