The Influence of Corruption in Curbing Illicit Drugs Activities in Nigeria

Abstract

The problem of illicit drug trafficking is not a new phenomenon in Nigeria. But when illicit drug activities pandemic began to assume a worrisome dimension, the government established the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to fight the drug scourge. However, after two decades illicit drugs activities has been on the increase while the competing scarce resources expended on the malaise and the long-standing efforts of NDLEA have not yielded the desired result depriving other essential areas of funds. This study identified corruption as a major factor to have undermined the fight against illicit drug activities. It is recommended that the government should be committed and resilient in the fight against illicit drug activities by restructuring and strengthening the agency. It should enforce the rule of law in a manner that citizens will conduct themselves within socially acceptable norms and formal rules.