The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) says reliable and comprehensive data remains critical to addressing the evolving drug situation across West Africa, with only updated and complete information able to support effective policies and interventions.
Dr Daniel Amankwaah, head of the prevention and drug control division at the ECOWAS Commission, said so at the closing of a three-day capacity-building workshop for the Nigerian Epidemiological Network on Drug Use (NENDU) in Lagos. He urged NENDU focal points to apply what they had learned in data collection, validation and analysis, and to strengthen Nigeria’s contribution to regional drug monitoring.
“We expect to see a clear improvement in the quality and timeliness of the data Nigeria submits to WENDU,” Amankwaah said. “ECOWAS remains committed to supporting Nigeria and all Member States in strengthening their drug data systems. This is a step-by-step process that we will continue until all data sources are covered.”
He advocated practical measures to improve collection, including data-gathering equipment for NENDU centres and expansion of the network to cover at least 16 neuropsychiatric hospitals, bringing the total to a minimum of 20 centres. No funding source, budget or timeline for either measure was stated.
Henrietta Bakura-Onyeneke, director of the narcotics and drug abuse division at Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, said quality data forms the foundation of an effective national response to drug use and its associated harms. “Let us leave this workshop with a renewed commitment to producing better data and stronger evidence, in order to drive more effective actions for the health and well-being of Nigerians,” she said.
Dr Amina Kazaure, a director in the ministry’s department of hospital services, encouraged participants to collect relevant data, verify its quality, submit accurate and timely reports, and use the information for evidence-based decision-making. “Let us continue to work together: treatment centres, the Federal Ministry of Health, ECOWAS, and other stakeholders,” she said. “I am confident that this workshop has enhanced our knowledge and, most importantly, our commitment to improving drug use practices in Nigeria.” She commended the Commission for its continued support in strengthening drug data systems across the region.
The workshop brought together NENDU focal points, ministry officials and other stakeholders responsible for drug data collection from Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, with the aim of strengthening technical capacity to produce drug use reports that support evidence-based policymaking and prevention interventions across ECOWAS member states.
NENDU is responsible for improving data collection, analysis and reporting on drug use trends in Nigeria and forms part of the West African Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (WENDU), established by the ECOWAS Commission in 2013 as a regional platform for collecting, analysing and disseminating data on drug use across member states.
