ECOWAS STRENGTHENS REGIONAL DRUG MONITORING THROUGH WENDU CAPACITY BUILDING AND 2025 DATA VALIDATION MEETING

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has commenced on 1st July 2026 in Abuja,Nigeria, the Regional Capacity Building of the West African Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (WENDU) and Validation of the 2025 WENDU Data by Member States, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening evidence-based drug prevention and control across the region.

The meeting opened with an address on behalf of the ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, Prof. Fatou Sow SARR, delivered by the Acting Director of Humanitarian and Social Affairs, Dr. Ibrahim MOHAMMED. In his remarks, Dr. MOHAMMED highlighted the remarkable progress achieved by the WENDU programme over the past decade, noting that its sustained success has been made possible through the dedication and collaboration of Member States and technical partners. He emphasized that since 2014, WENDU has consistently produced and presented annual data, making it one of the region’s most reliable mechanisms for monitoring trends in drug use and related public health challenges.

Reflecting on the programme’s growing impact, the Acting Director announced that an article titled “West Africa’s Evolving Drug Crisis: From Transit Hub to Emerging Consumer Market” is scheduled for publication in the African Journal of Drug and Alcohol Studies. The publication is expected to provide valuable insights into the changing dynamics of drug use in West Africa while showcasing the importance of regional data collection and analysis.

Dr. MOHAMMED further underscored the critical role of reliable data in shaping effective interventions, stressing that a credible WENDU report remains essential for improving evidence-based drug prevention, treatment, and control initiatives at both national and regional levels. He encouraged participants to ensure the accuracy, quality, and completeness of the 2025 data validation process to strengthen policy formulation and decision-making across ECOWAS Member States.

The regional meeting featured technical sessions dedicated to the presentation and validation of the 2025 WENDU data by Member States. Participants reviewed national submissions, discussed emerging drug use trends, exchanged experiences, and identified areas requiring further improvement to enhance data quality and regional harmonization.

The programme also included presentations on Member States’ activities relating to the online WENDU data transmission platform, providing an opportunity to assess progress in digital reporting mechanisms and strengthen the capacity of national focal points to utilize the platform effectively. These discussions are expected to contribute to more timely, standardized, and reliable reporting across the ECOWAS region.

The Regional Capacity Building and Data Validation Meeting demonstrates ECOWAS’ continued commitment to fostering regional cooperation, strengthening surveillance systems, and promoting evidence-driven responses to the evolving drug situation in West Africa. By reinforcing the quality and credibility of WENDU data, the Commission aims to support Member States in developing informed policies and coordinated interventions that safeguard public health and regional security.