ECOWAS Set To Combat Drug Abuse, Develop Comprehensive Digital Platform To Generate Data

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission has taken steps to combat drug abuse in the West Africa subregion, including the development of a comprehensive digital platform that will serve as a centralised system for data input by national focal points, as well as the expansion of the West African Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (WENDU) project.

Professor Fatou Sow Sarr, the ECOWAS Commission’s Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, announced the start of the process at the Validation Workshop of the West African Epidemiology Network on Drug Use’s 2024 Report in Abuja.

The Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, represented by the ECOWAS Commission’s Head of Drug Prevention and Control, Dr. Daniel Amankwaah, declared the workshop open and stated that the ECOWAS Commission prioritises the improvement and sustainability of the WENDU.

He stated, “The development of this platform underscores ECOWAS’ commitment to strengthening regional cooperation in combating drug abuse and its consequences, contributing to improved public health and security across West Africa.”

He stated that: “The platform is envisioned to be a robust, secure, and user-friendly system that caters to its users’ diverse needs, facilitating a more coordinated and effective regional response to drug-related issues.”

He went on to say, “We have begun the validation of the 2024 drug data, which will be published soon in a yet-to-be determined Member State. The data has been compiled by the resource persons, and we look forward to your review to ensure that it accurately represents what was transmitted. A credible WENDU report is essential for strengthening evidence-based drug prevention and control efforts at the national and regional levels.

“In this regard, the ECOWAS Commission places a high value on the collection, collation, and validation of WENDU data before publication. This three-day workshop will also be used to improve the WENDU focal points’ capacity for collecting, collating, analysing, and disseminating drug-related data by training them on new data collection tools.

“I assure you that the ECOWAS Commission is fully committed and will continue to work with all Member States and Partners to ensure that the drug menace is effectively controlled. controlled. All of us working together we shaOn that note, best wishes for the successful training and validation of the 2024 WENDU data.

Mrs Henrietta Bakura-Onyeneke, Director of Narcotics and Drug Abuse at Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health, made the following statement. “We come together at a critical juncture—one that necessitates renewed resolve and collective action in confronting the changing landscape of drug use and trafficking in our region. The impact of substance use disorders, which are linked to poverty, crime, public health burdens, and social exclusion, continues to pose significant challenges to West African development and stability.

She continued, “This workshop highlights the core of what WENDU stands for: strengthening our regional capacity to generate accurate, timely, and actionable data—data that not only reflects the magnitude and patterns of drug use, but also allows us to design informed, effective, and sustainable responses. Our ability to establish strong, coordinated national surveillance and reporting mechanisms is critical to determining the future of drug prevention and control in ECOWAS Member States.

“Over the next three days, we will validate the 2024 WENDU regional report to ensure that the data transmitted by our dedicated National Focal Points accurately reflects the realities on the ground—drug seizures, arrests, treatment admissions, and emerging trends. We will also invest in capacity building, providing our focal points with new tools and methodologies for better data collection, analysis, and dissemination.”

She stated that this is more than a technical exercise; it is a call to action—a regional imperative to protect our communities’ health, security, and well-being. Let us use this opportunity to collaborate, learn, and strengthen our collective resolve to combat substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking throughout ECOWAS.”

across ECOWAS.”