NDLEA Begins Nationwide Training Of Counselors On Rehab Guidelines

By RhemDy News 

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has commenced a comprehensive training programme for its counselors nationwide.

NDLEA's spokesman, Femi Babafemi, in a statement  on Friday in Abuja, said the training was aimed at standardising operational protocols and strengthening clinical competencies in line with global best practices for drug demand reduction.

The training, which commenced at the NDLEA Academy, Jos, Plateau State, is being coordinated by the Directorate of Counseling, Treatment and Rehabilitation (DCTR) with over 100 counselors drawn from the agency's formations across the country.

Babafemi said the exercise marked the first agency-driven capacity-building programme of its kind for NDLEA counselors in several years, a development that has been widely commended by participants as a demonstration of the agency's renewed commitment to the professional growth of its counseling workforce.

Speaking at the commencement of the phase 1 of the exercise, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) who was represented by the Director, Counseling, Treatment and Rehabilitation, ACGN Bashir Ibrahim, said the training was critical to revitalising staff morale and equipping officers with modern therapeutic tools to tackle the evolving complexities of substance use disorders.

Marwa described the training as a reaffirmation of the rehabilitation pillar of the anti-narcotics agency's mandate and a guarantee that clients across NDLEA facilities receive evidence-based, quality interventions.

“Key objectives of the training include harmonising practice through uniform protocols across all State Command rehabilitation facilities; enhancing clinical proficiency to address emerging psychoactive substances and co-occurring mental health disorders; aligning the agency's rehabilitation practices with national and international standards; strengthening ethics, confidentiality and quality assurance; improving data management for evidence-based policymaking; promoting continuous professional development through peer review and clinical supervision; and optimizing rehabilitation outcomes by reducing inconsistencies in service delivery,” the NDLEA's boss said.

He said the initiative underscores the agency’s commitment to building a resilient, well-equipped counseling workforce capable of responding effectively to the nation's drug demand reduction needs.

Marwa added that the training was expected to significantly improve the quality of care across NDLEA rehabilitation facilities and reinforce the integrity of Nigeria's drug treatment and rehabilitation architecture.

He assured that the Agency will continue to invest in the capacity of its personnel as part of its holistic approach to tackling drug supply and demand reduction in the country.