The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has commenced a comprehensive training programme for its counsellors nationwide to standardise operational protocols and strengthen clinical competencies in line with global best practices for drug demand reduction.

In a statement on Friday, its spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said the training began at the NDLEA Academy in Jos, Plateau State.

Mr Babafemi said the training, coordinated by the Directorate of Counselling, Treatment and Rehabilitation (DCTR), brought together over 100 counsellors from the agency’s formations across the country.

He said the exercise marked the first agency-driven capacity-building programme of its kind for NDLEA counsellors in several years.

This, he said, was a development participants widely commended as a demonstration of the agency’s renewed commitment to the professional growth of its counselling workforce.

Speaking at the commencement of phase 1 of the exercise, NDLEA chairman Buba Marwa said the training was critical to revitalising staff morale and equipping officers with modern therapeutic tools.

He said this was to tackle the evolving complexities of substance use disorders.

Bashir Ibrahim, the director of counselling, treatment and rehabilitation, represented Mr Marwa.

He described the training as a reaffirmation of the rehabilitation pillar of the agency’s mandate and a guarantee that clients across NDLEA facilities receive evidence-based quality interventions.

“Key objectives of the training include harmonising practice through uniform protocols across all state command rehabilitation facilities and enhancing clinical proficiency to address emerging psychoactive substances.

“Also included are co-occurring mental health disorders; aligning the agency’s rehabilitation practices with national and international standards; strengthening ethics, confidentiality and quality assurance; and improving data management for evidence-based policymaking.

“Others are promoting continuous professional development through peer review and clinical supervision and optimising rehabilitation outcomes by reducing inconsistencies in service delivery,” he said.

Mr Marwa said the initiative underscored the agency’s commitment to building a resilient, well-equipped counselling workforce capable of responding effectively to the nation’s drug demand reduction needs.

He assured that the agency would continue to invest in its personnel’s capacity as part of its holistic approach to tackling drug supply and demand reduction in the country.

(NAN)