Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
ABUJA, Nigeria — A leading northern advocacy organisation has warned that young people in northern Nigeria are facing a deepening social crisis fuelled by drug abuse, moral deterioration, hate speech and divisive online rhetoric, calling for urgent collective action to restore discipline and core values among the region’s youths.
In a statement issued this week, the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) Students Wing expressed growing alarm over what it described as an accelerating erosion of values among young residents across the northern geopolitical zone. The group’s warning came during a public lecture in Sokoto that focused on strengthening student leadership and confronting campus‑level challenges related to substance misuse, thuggery, hate speech and social disunity.
CNG National Coordinator, Comrade Jamilu Ali, said the region has shifted from being once respected for discipline and integrity to becoming increasingly associated with insecurity, vice and societal fragmentation. “Drug abuse is a catastrophe destroying our youths,” Ali said, while also warning that unchecked hate speech — particularly online — is fuelling divisions between religious and ethnic communities.
The group noted that social media, rather than serving as a unifying force, has too often become a platform for insults, sectarian bigotry and character attacks that deepen social rifts and undermine communal harmony. CNG leaders also highlighted that the challenges confronting youths in northern Nigeria are reflected on campuses, where student unionism — once a force for democratic engagement — has been weakened by hostile rhetoric and identity politics.
Speakers at the event stressed that campuses are “laboratories for national reform” and must be reinvigorated with morality, self‑discipline and ethical leadership if the region is to overcome its current challenges. They argued that youth movements and student bodies must embody values such as maturity, empathy and accountability to rebuild public trust and social cohesion.
The coalition’s warnings resonate with broader concerns about youth vulnerability in Nigeria. Recent civil society campaigns have similarly underscored the link between drug abuse and social instability, with youth groups mobilising against substance misuse and cultism through awareness drives, school programmes and community engagement efforts.
Analysts say that northern states face a complex interplay of challenges, including economic hardship, unemployment and limited access to quality education, which can leave young people susceptible to substance use and anti‑social behaviours. While not directly linked to the coalition’s statements, longstanding regional debates have also pointed to the need for integrated efforts that combine enforcement, prevention and rehabilitation services.
In response to rising drug abuse and related social vices, federal and local authorities have periodically launched broader campaigns against substance misuse, involving agencies such as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) alongside community stakeholders. These efforts emphasise prevention, treatment and community‑driven education as key components of national strategies to address youth and public health concerns.
The Coalition of Northern Groups has urged government, traditional and religious leaders, as well as youth and civil society organisations, to prioritise programmes that promote positive values and discourage harmful behaviours. The group stressed that reversing the tide of moral decay and drug abuse requires multi‑sectoral coordination, early intervention and sustained support for young people across the region.
As Nigeria nears a pivotal election cycle, with national polls scheduled for 2027, the coalition’s alert reflects growing anxiety about the social and political environment shaping the aspirations and wellbeing of the country’s youthful population. With northern states home to a significant share of Nigeria’s youth, the call for action highlights the importance of addressing underlying socio‑economic and cultural pressures that continue to influence behaviour and societal outcomes.
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