Bayelsa drug rehab centre delayed as families struggle for affordable care
- Bayelsa's planned drug rehabilitation centre is not yet open, with no date or cost details given.
- Officials say the original building was unsuitable because patients with substance abuse problems can be violent.
- NDLEA says it arrested 600 drug suspects in Bayelsa in 2025 and seized 621 kilogrammes of drugs.
Families in Bayelsa State who need affordable help for relatives battling drug addiction are still waiting, because the state's planned rehabilitation centre has not begun operations. The delay leaves many unsure where to turn, especially those in rural and riverine communities where health services are already hard to reach.
The Bayelsa State Government says the centre will offer detoxification, rehabilitation and follow-up care at reduced cost. But its opening date, treatment costs and how patients will be admitted remain unclear.
Why the opening slipped
Dr Peter Owonaro, chairman of the Bayelsa State Drug Abuse Prevention and Rehabilitation Committee (BADAPARC), had earlier said the facility was almost complete and would soon be used. He said the aim was to keep treatment affordable for poor residents and rural dwellers.
In a later interview, however, he said technical problems forced a change to the original design. The first building had glass fittings and a layout that could endanger patients who become violent because of substance abuse, he said.
“These are people that you are bringing in who have a substance abuse problem and they can be violent,” Owonaro said, explaining the decision to build another structure closer to a hospital so patients can get emergency medical attention.
He did not say how far the new building has gone, when it will be finished or when it will start receiving patients. Calls and messages to him for more details were not answered before the report was filed.
Drug use and enforcement in Bayelsa
The uncertainty comes as officials warn about substance misuse among young people. Owonaro said BADAPARC has visited 176 secondary schools to teach students about the dangers of drug abuse and to set up drug-free clubs.
Dr Chia Francis, Deputy State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), called drug abuse in the state a serious concern. He cited a 2018 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime report that ranked Bayelsa third among the six South-South states for drug use. He named cannabis, methamphetamine, tramadol and a local mixture known as “goskolo” as substances of concern.
The NDLEA's Command Media and Advocacy Officer, Obah Daniel-Howells, said the agency arrested 600 suspects for drug-related offences in 2025 and seized 621 kilogrammes of assorted drugs, with about 20 convictions recorded. He said people who need addiction treatment are referred for counselling and rehabilitation rather than automatically prosecuted.
The agency also said inadequate boats and operational vehicles make it hard to reach some riverine communities, which could slow prevention and support work in those areas.
For residents outside Yenagoa, an affordable centre nearby would matter a great deal, given the transport costs and difficulty of seeking specialist care. Stakeholders have also stressed parental supervision, public education and community support to help recovering users rebuild their lives.
What happens next
Until the centre opens and its services and costs are made public, families will keep relying on private treatment, counselling referrals and whatever support they can find.
