The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has formally recognized Kaduna State as the national benchmark for drug prevention and treatment, praising the State’s bold reforms and comprehensive approach to tackling substance abuse and mental health challenges.
In a letter personally signed by the UNODC Country Representative, Mr. Cheikh Toure, and addressed to Governor Uba Sani, the organisation lauded Kaduna’s “remarkable strides” in strengthening both institutional and community-based interventions.
The letter underscored the State’s groundbreaking transition from the Kaduna Bureau of Substance Abuse, Prevention and Treatment into the fully integrated Kaduna State Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency (KadSAMHSA).
According to UNODC, Kaduna’s unified structure — combining mental health and substance-use interventions under one coordinated agency — aligns with global best practice and stands out as one of the most effective subnational models in Nigeria.
UNODC also highlighted the State Government’s strong emphasis on prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and public education, supported by multisectoral coordination, community outreach, and psychosocial support. This balanced and holistic approach, it noted, reflects forward-thinking governance and a genuine commitment to comprehensive drug control.
The UN agency further disclosed that several states — including Yobe, Borno, Bayelsa and Kwara — have approached UNODC for guidance on replicating the widely referenced “Kaduna Model,” now regarded as a standard for sustainable and effective drug response across the country.
This growing interest, UNODC added, reinforces Kaduna State’s reputation as a national leader and innovator in public health reform and social reintegration efforts.
Reaffirming its support, UNODC assured that it will continue to provide Kaduna State with technical assistance, capacity building, and programme linkages to national and regional drug control strategies. It pledged to further strengthen its partnership with the State Government and KadSAMHSA to advance evidence-based prevention and treatment systems.
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