Aminu Adamu, popularly called Tanga, is a 20-year-old from Kano Municipal Local Government Area. At an age when many of his mates are pursuing higher education, he has dropped out of school and drifted into drug addiction.

Each morning, instead of going to work or class, Aminu heads to a secluded spot under a tree by a stream — a notorious hideout where young men gather to take drugs, steal phones, and engage in petty crimes.

Sharing his experience, Aminu explained that the loss of both parents pushed him into this lifestyle.

“When my parents were alive, I lacked nothing. They supported my education. But I lost them within two years. As the eldest of six siblings, I was too young to take responsibility. Relatives didn’t help, and friends lured me into drugs,” he said with regret.

Drugs, Politics, and Exploitation

At the same hideout was 38-year-old Sulaiman Rabiu, a former truck driver who said drug addiction cost him his livelihood after his employer seized his truck. He accused politicians of manipulating youths like him during elections.

“We take cannabis, tramadol, diazepam, codeine — anything available. Politicians use us during campaigns to stir trouble and violence. Recently, in Bagwai/Shanono during a by-election, we almost lost our lives. Yet the same politicians abandoned us afterward,” he lamented.

Another addict, who gave his name as Mada, told a different story. Unlike others, he is a skilled carpenter but says lack of resources and equipment forced him into the den.

“If I had a proper workshop, I wouldn’t be here. I can build any type of bed frame just by looking at a picture. All I need is support to set up a shop,” he said.

Despite their struggles, all three addicts expressed willingness to quit drugs if given access to rehabilitation, skills training, and opportunities to rebuild their lives.

Government Response and Expert Concerns

The Kano State Government recently launched Operation Safe Corridor, a rehabilitation initiative that offers skills training, start-up capital, and even marriage support to repentant addicts. While hundreds of youths have benefited, many thousands remain trapped in addiction.

Retired General Gambo Mai Adua, Chairman of Kano’s Committee Against Drug Abuse and Thuggery, noted that the government is ready to assist any youth willing to turn a new leaf.

“We welcome any youth who shows remorse and is ready to change. Structures are in place to train and empower them once they come forward,” he said.

In February 2025, the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), General Buba Marwa, disclosed that more than one million youths in Kano abuse drugs — the highest number in Nigeria.

Aminu Sabo, a psychology lecturer at Bayero University, Kano, stressed that the problem goes beyond poverty and unemployment.

“Society itself contributes about 70% of the crisis. Even children from wealthy homes, men and women, privileged and underprivileged alike, are caught up in addiction. This is a major crisis that demands urgent and collective action,” he warned.