The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy on substance abuse, warning that personnel found culpable face dismissal from service.
The Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Air Training Command, AVM Esen Efanga, gave the warning at the Fourth Quarter 2026 Training Day Lecture of the Nigerian Air Force School of Medical Sciences and Aviation Medicine (NAFSMSAM) in Kaduna on Tuesday.
Efanga, represented by the Commandant, Air Traffic Services Training Centre (ATSTC), AVM Nosiru Folaji, described substance abuse as a growing menace, particularly among young Nigerians seeking enlistment into the Armed Forces.
He said the lecture, themed “Beyond the High: Understanding Substance Abuse, Addiction and Its Impact on Society,” was timely, given the growing concern over substance abuse and its consequences.
“The Nigerian Air Force has a policy on substance abuse and has zero tolerance for substance abuse. Let me re-emphasise that aspect: zero tolerance. Personnel caught in this act face total dismissal,” he said.
Efanga urged students and personnel to shun substance abuse, warning that it could destroy their careers, health and future.
He commended the school’s Commandant for organising the lecture and praised the guest lecturer for simplifying the subject and highlighting the importance of early intervention and accessible care.
He also appreciated the panelists for sharing their professional experiences and urged the students to apply the lessons learnt.
Earlier, the Commandant of NAFSMSAM, AVM Anthony Ekpe, said the institution was established to train middle-level medical personnel for the NAF Medical Services Branch and host communities.
Ekpe said the school had trained seven sets of A1 upgrading courses and four sets of basic medical courses, while currently running four regular medical technician programmes.
According to him, the programmes are Community Health Extension Workers, Medical Laboratory Technicians, Medical Imaging Processing Technicians and Pharmacy Technicians.
He explained that the quarterly Training Day Lecture was designed to expose students, instructors and members of the base community to contemporary medical issues, encourage research and improve professional knowledge.
The guest lecturer, Dr Joseph Ike, Director-General of the Kaduna State Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency, called for practical interventions to prevent substance abuse and reduce its effects on society.
Ike, a substance abuse researcher and management expert, said the lecture sought to move discussions beyond general awareness to identifying practical ways individuals and professionals could intervene.
He noted that the institution trained community health workers, psychologists and other medical personnel who could play important roles in identifying substance abuse, supporting affected persons and facilitating access to appropriate care.
According to him, strengthening the trainees’ understanding of intervention strategies would help reduce addiction and its negative consequences.
Ike urged members of the public to seek professional assistance whenever they or someone they knew experienced problems associated with drug use.
“If you or someone you know has a problem with drugs, the best thing to do is to reach out to somebody who may be able to take you to where you can get the professional care that you need,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ike’s lecture covered types of substances of abuse, the mechanisms of addiction, the consequences of substance abuse and the levels of care required for prevention and management.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
