Drugs abuse in Nigeria. The major objective of the study is to assess the efforts of NDLEA in fighting illicit drugs criminals; identify its challenges and to proffer solutions. The study adopted dual methods of data collection and data analysis; both primary and secondary data were collected for the investigation. Data collection was done through questionnaire for primary data and library instrument for secondary data. Furthermore, multiple statistical packages were utilized for the analysis of both primary and secondary data. Based on the analysis, the paper found inter alia; that NDLEA works hard in fighting the illicit drugs abuse but its efforts are subtly undermined by the lackadaisical attitude of Government in terms of lack of political will to dismantle illicit drugs cartel friendly with Government; that NDLEA is in dire need of sophisticated, hi-tech operational paraphernalia to enable it match the games of drugs criminals. Based on the findings, the paper recommended amongst others; the Government should support the illicit drugs fighting agency with political will so that the taproot (cartel) of illicit drugs abuse in Nigeria could be uprooted; the agency should be regularly equipped with state-of-the-art operational devices with regular employment, training and retraining of staffers to update them with modern data and technicalities for effective war against illicit drugs abusers.
Keywords: Illicit drugs; institutional quality; drugs abuse; NDLEA; political will
