Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has opened up about his youthful struggles with smoking, revealing how he narrowly avoided becoming a drug addict.
Obasanjo shared his experience while speaking at the second edition of the Fly Above The High anti-drug campaign conference organized by the Recovery Advocacy Network in Abeokuta over the weekend.
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The former President recounted how his smoking habit led to chronic coughing, which nearly escalated into an addiction. He emphasized the dangers of drug abuse, particularly among youths, and called on young Nigerians to avoid psychoactive substances.
“If I had persisted, I could have become addicted. Once you get involved, it is difficult to get out,” he said.
Obasanjo also lamented the rise in drug abuse across Nigeria and West Africa, warning of the long-term damage it causes. “There’s nothing drug can do for you except destruction,” he stated.
He highlighted how West Africa has become a hub for drug consumption, noting that the situation has worsened over the years. “We found out that West Africa has equally been a centre for drug consumption in a very bad way. That was more than 10 years ago, so the situation has since gone worse. And whatever applies to West Africa applies to all other parts of Africa,” Obasanjo said.
In his address, Obasanjo urged society to avoid stigmatizing individuals battling addiction and encouraged those affected to seek professional help.
