BY: AYO AGBEOLUWAYE
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has commenced a nationwide training programme for its counsellors as part of efforts to standardise rehabilitation practices and strengthen clinical competencies in line with global best practices.
The first phase of the training began at the NDLEA Academy in Jos, Plateau State, with more than 100 counsellors drawn from the Agency’s formations across the country participating in the exercise.
The programme is being coordinated by the Directorate of Counselling, Treatment and Rehabilitation (DCTR) and marks the first Agency-driven capacity-building initiative of its kind for NDLEA counsellors in several years.
Speaking at the commencement of the exercise, the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd.), represented by the Director of Counselling, Treatment and Rehabilitation, ACGN Bashir Ibrahim, described the training as critical to revitalising staff morale and equipping counsellors with modern therapeutic tools.
Marwa said the initiative reaffirms the Agency’s commitment to the rehabilitation component of its mandate and ensuring that clients accessing NDLEA treatment facilities receive evidence-based and quality interventions.
According to him, the training is designed to harmonise counselling and rehabilitation practices through uniform protocols across state command rehabilitation facilities.
He added that it would enhance clinical proficiency in addressing emerging psychoactive substances and co-occurring mental health disorders, while aligning NDLEA rehabilitation practices with national and international standards.
Other objectives of the programme include strengthening ethics, confidentiality and quality assurance; improving data management for evidence-based policymaking; promoting continuous professional development through peer review and clinical supervision; and improving rehabilitation outcomes by reducing inconsistencies in service delivery.
The NDLEA Chairman said the initiative underscores the Agency’s commitment to building a resilient and well-equipped counselling workforce capable of responding effectively to Nigeria’s drug demand reduction needs.
He expressed confidence that the training would significantly improve the quality of care across NDLEA rehabilitation facilities and further strengthen Nigeria’s drug treatment and rehabilitation architecture.
Marwa assured that the Agency would continue to invest in the capacity development of its personnel as part of its holistic approach to combating drug abuse, while addressing both the supply and demand sides of the drug problem.
