07/05/2026
His Excellency, Senator CON, received the Country Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime , Mr. Cheikh Touré, during a high-level engagement focused on strengthening collaborative responses to substance abuse, mental health conditions, and insecurity.
The discussions reinforced the importance of sustained partnerships and evidence-based interventions in addressing the growing challenges of drug abuse and mental health, particularly across the North-West region and other affected parts of the country.
His Excellency reaffirmed Kaduna State’s commitment to a public health-centred approach that prioritises prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and social reintegration.
The Governor also acknowledged the continued partnership, technical support, and global expertise provided by UNODC in advancing Kaduna State’s drug demand reduction and mental health response systems.
Speaking during the engagement, UNODC Country Representative, Mr. Cheikh Touré, commended Kaduna State for emerging as a national benchmark in drug prevention and treatment, highlighting the state’s progressive mental health law and pioneering interventions.
He noted that Kaduna remains the first and only jurisdiction in Sub-Saharan Africa implementing the Alternatives to Incarceration (ATI) programme, the first state in Nigeria to adopt the Child Amplified Protection System, and currently leads the 2025 Transparency and Integrity Index for the second consecutive year.
KADSAMHSA remains committed to deepening collaboration with UNODC and other stakeholders in advancing sustainable prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and recovery systems across Kaduna State, including ongoing conversations around the proposed International Summit on Drug Abuse, Kaduna.
Together, we continue to build safer, healthier, and more resilient communities.