NDLEA Begins Nationwide Training of Counsellors on Standard Rehabilitation Guidelines

 NDLEA Begins Nationwide Training of Counsellors on Standard Rehabilitation Guidelines

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has commenced a nationwide capacity-building programme for its counsellors, aimed at standardising rehabilitation practices and strengthening clinical competencies in line with global best practices in drug demand reduction.

The training, which began at the NDLEA Academy in Jos, Plateau State, is being coordinated by the Agency’s Directorate of Counselling, Treatment and Rehabilitation (DCTR) and has brought together more than 100 counsellors from NDLEA formations across the country.

The initiative is the first Agency-driven capacity-building programme specifically designed for NDLEA counsellors in several years and is expected to enhance the quality and consistency of treatment services provided at the Agency’s rehabilitation facilities.

Speaking at the commencement of Phase One of the exercise, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.), represented by the Director, Counselling, Treatment and Rehabilitation, ACGN Bashir Ibrahim, described the training as critical to revitalising staff morale and equipping counsellors with modern therapeutic tools to address the growing complexities of substance use disorders.

Marwa said the programme reaffirmed the rehabilitation component of the Agency’s mandate and would ensure that clients accessing NDLEA treatment facilities receive evidence-based and quality interventions.

He listed the objectives of the training to include harmonising counselling practices through uniform protocols across NDLEA rehabilitation facilities; improving clinical proficiency in managing emerging psychoactive substances and co-occurring mental health disorders; and aligning the Agency’s rehabilitation services with national and international standards.

Other objectives, he said, include strengthening professional ethics, confidentiality and quality assurance; improving data management for evidence-based policymaking; promoting continuous professional development through peer review and clinical supervision; and reducing inconsistencies in service delivery to achieve better rehabilitation outcomes.

According to the NDLEA chairman, the initiative underscores the Agency’s commitment to developing a resilient and well-equipped counselling workforce capable of responding effectively to Nigeria’s drug demand reduction challenges.

He added that the training would significantly improve the quality of care across NDLEA rehabilitation facilities while strengthening the country’s drug treatment and rehabilitation framework.

Marwa further assured that the Agency would continue to invest in personnel development as part of its comprehensive strategy to address both drug supply and demand reduction in Nigeria.