NDLEA commences nationwide training of counselors on standard rehab guidelines

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

According to the Director, Media and Advocacy of the Agency, Mr Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Friday, the training is 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) and brings together over 100 counsellors drawn from the Agency’s formations across the country.

The exercise, Babafemi said, marks the first Agency-driven capacity-building programme of its kind for NDLEA counsellors 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 counselling workforce.

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

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He described it as a reaffirmation of the rehabilitation pillar of the Agency’s mandate and a guarantee that clients across NDLEA facilities receive evidence-based, quality interventions.

According to him, “key objectives of the training include harmonizing 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.”

He said the initiative underscores the Agency’s commitment to building a resilient, well-equipped counselling workforce capable of responding effectively to the nation’s drug demand reduction needs, adding that the training is expected to significantly improve the quality of care across NDLEA rehabilitation facilities and reinforce the integrity of Nigeria’s drug treatment and rehabilitation architecture.

Marwa 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.