Akin Fadeyi, Convener of Corruption Not In My Country, has linked the rising anti-social behaviour among Nigerian youths to society’s failure.
Speaking on Friday during an interview on Channels Television’s breakfast show, The Morning Brief, he stressed the urgent need for collective responsibility.
Fadeyi, who is also the Founder of the Akin Fadeyi Foundation, cited a recent United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report. The report revealed that 14.3 per cent of Nigerians aged 15 to 64 abuse drugs and other harmful substances.
He described the figure as only a “microcosm” of the problem. According to him, the trend signals a self-destructive path for young people.
A Call for Urgent Action
Fadeyi noted that “in the heart of every young person lies the potential for greatness.” He emphasized that youth is not just a phase but a “revolution waiting to happen.”
However, he warned that the crisis had reached emergency levels. He urged society to reflect and ask, “What have we done wrong?”
The Consequences of Drug Influence
Fadeyi explained that young people under the influence of drugs may still commit crimes despite attempts at discipline. Such crimes, he noted, range from assaulting parents to acts of sexual violence.
“The disease itself is already gangrenous. We are dealing with a very serious case of emergency. What we have done wrong is a collective wrong, society has failed these youths,” he said.
Fadeyi also blamed poor parenting and declining societal values. He questioned whether parents are raising entitled children or simply pacifying them with money and mobile devices instead of proper guidance.
He cited cases where parents attacked teachers for disciplining their wards. According to him, this leaves schools unable to enforce discipline for fear of backlash or cult-related violence.
A Warning for the Future
Fadeyi warned that the lack of accountability is pushing society “rapidly south.” He insisted that no youth with serious intentions for their future would see rebellion and drug abuse as the right path.
“People must decide they want to grow well and be meaningful. Otherwise, we are heading for a suicidal society,” he cautioned.
His remarks come after a viral video surfaced online. The clip showed some youths, believed to be secondary school students in Ejigbo, Lagos, smoking unidentified substances and drinking what looked like alcohol.
