By ENITAN ABEL JOHNGOLD ORHERUATA, mnipr
The National Association of Seadogs (NAS), also known as the Pyrates Confraternity, has raised the alarm over the deepening twin crises of drug abuse and homelessness in Nigeria, describing them as “moral emergencies” that require urgent national action.
In a statement issued on October 5, 2025, the NAS Cap’n, Dr. Joseph Oteri, said the association is deeply concerned about the rising rate of substance abuse and homelessness among Nigerian youth and other vulnerable groups. He described the situation as a grave threat to public health, national security, and social cohesion.
As part of efforts to address these challenges, all NAS chapters across Nigeria and in the diaspora on Saturday, October 4, 2025, held a simultaneous nationwide advocacy and humanitarian campaign under the theme:
👉 “National Campaign Against Drug Abuse and Homelessness.”
The coordinated activities, which took place in multiple cities across the country, featured advocacy walks, community outreaches, and public education drives in partnership with government agencies such as the NDLEA, rehabilitation centres, NGOs, and local authorities.
According to NAS, the campaign represents a unified national voice calling for urgent interventions to rescue Nigerian youth from the grip of drug addiction and the indignity of homelessness.
The association highlighted that 40–60% of individuals who undergo rehabilitation in Nigeria often relapse, stressing that the few existing centres are overwhelmed. It, therefore, urged parents to prioritise prevention by paying closer attention to their children and wards.
“The intersection between substance abuse and homelessness fuels mental health breakdown, domestic violence, and street crime,” the statement read. “Addressing it requires a coordinated, humane, and policy-driven approach that integrates health, education, and social welfare systems.”
NAS called on the Federal, State, and Local Governments, alongside the private sector and civil society organisations, to intensify investments in youth rehabilitation, mental health infrastructure, and community sensitisation. It emphasised that the national response must shift from punitive measures to preventive and restorative strategies rooted in empathy and education.
Dr. Oteri stated that the vision of the campaign is to create a “Pathway to Dignity” — bringing every child back to school, every youth back to hope, and every person struggling with addiction back to humanity.
“For over seven decades, NAS has stood for justice, equality, and human dignity. We shall not relent in confronting any threat to the welfare and dignity of Nigerians, whether it manifests as addiction, homelessness, or institutional neglect,” he affirmed.
The National Association of Seadogs pledged to leverage its national and international networks to continue championing social reform, promoting responsible citizenship, and advancing the cause of humanity.
