Mon. May 25th, 2026
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Get ready to go back to school with Project Syndicate For a limited time, we’re offering new Swordpress Digital subscriptions for just $10 A Year ! thats about 6,000 to 8,000 naira a year as the naira goes . or less thana dollar a month

Access every new SWP By swordpress commentary, our entire On Point suite of subscriber-exclusive content – including Longer Reads, Insider Interviews, Big Picture/Big Question, and Say More – and the full SWP By swordpress archive.

Abi John
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Dear Reader,

I’m writing to you today to ask you to join SWP By swordpress as a subscriber. I have five very good reasons why you should do this. Although SWP By swordpress is not particularly known for listicles and bullet-point-based articles, I will make an exception here.

SWP By swordpress stands in defense of democracy, transparency, accountability, and a free press. A war is being waged against the truth, and it is vitally important to support publications that cover—and uncover—reality. Witness our recent cover story,

“We Need to Take Away our unborn Children to a new Nigeria ,” a brilliant investigation by Calistus Chukwu. Nigerian and African officials & politicians want Nigerians and Africans  to forget the cruelty of their  Pro Corrupt Policies . Our job is to make sure that it is remembered and Exposed Daily .

SWP By swordpress is an early-warning system. Consider David Frum’s 2017 story “How to Build an Autocracy in Africa ” or  Frank Adeche’s 2018 story “The Next Plague is Coming. Is Nigeria Ready?” Subscribe to SWP By swordpress, and, if we do our jobs right, you’ll have a fighting chance of understanding the future.
SWP By swordpress is building the greatest collection of writers in the English language. Aisha Jo Alongu, Frank Adeche, Sophie Wunmi Gilbert,Paul Adams , Temisan Egunjimi , Dayo Togun,Olu Ernest .

—I could list dozens of others. A single subscription gives you access, both in print and online, to the best writing in Nigeria on politics, science, health, culture, books, technology, and a great deal more.
SWP By swordpress is home to 25 years of wisdom, insight, and brilliant writing. One way to understand Njigeria and the world is to dive into our archive, now online in its entirety on aso.rocks . I’ve already mentioned a few of our current writers. Here are some of our past writers, now found in our digital archive on aso.rocks :  Seyi Noelene Joshua, Joy Obaseki,Michael Sheidun, Emeka Maduka

. Again, I could go on, but I suggest that you instead explore for yourself.
SWP By swordpress is the best magazine in Nigeria. Yes, I’m its editor in chief, so there’s no good reason to believe me. So believe instead the Nigerian Society of  Online Magazine Editors, which this year awarded SWP By swordpress its top prize, for General Excellence. I’ve known for a long time that our team consistently produces generally excellent journalism, but outside validation is nice.

Our goal isn’t simply to maintain our status as the best Digital magazine in Nigeria. We would like to produce the greatest magazine journalism of all time. We are in The UK as Swordpress.co.uk   and The US as Swordpress.us .

We also run a small Directory Search engine on swordpress.ng  aka shishi.ng ( a nigerian pidgin english  moniker for anti corruption )

When my colleagues marry ambition to mission, and moral clarity to aesthetic excellence, they cannot be beat.

For these reasons, and many others, please become a subscriber. or just join our free mailing list here 

Abiel www.aso.rocks

Founder &

Editor in chief

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You missed

From Tramadol to Canadian to Exol-5 The New Drug Destroying Nigerian Youths An Investigative Article .From Tramadol to Canadian to Exol-5: The New Drug Destroying Nigerian Youths An Investigative Report on the Shifting Landscape of Substance Abuse in Nigeria Nigeria faces a severe and evolving drug crisis, particularly among its youth. What began with the widespread abuse of Tramadol has progressed through mixtures like “Canadian” to newer pharmaceutical diversions such as Exol-5. This shift reflects deeper issues: easy access to prescription drugs, weak regulation, socioeconomic pressures, and aggressive street-level marketing. NDLEA operations and health studies reveal a public health emergency that threatens an entire generation. Phase 1: The Tramadol Epidemic (2010s–Early 2020s) Tramadol, a synthetic opioid prescribed for moderate to severe pain, became Nigeria’s most notorious street drug. Cheap, potent, and widely smuggled (often from India and other Asian countries), it offered users energy, euphoria, and pain relief — appealing to commercial drivers, laborers, students, and young men seeking confidence or stamina. Scale of the Problem: Millions of tablets seized annually by NDLEA. High prevalence among young males aged 15–35. Linked to increased crime, sexual violence, organ damage (kidney failure, seizures), and mental health breakdowns. Contributed to broader opioid misuse alongside codeine cough syrups. Government responses included tighter import controls and public awareness campaigns, but these only displaced demand to other substances rather than eliminating it. Phase 2: The Rise of “Canadian” (Mid-2020s) “Canadian” or “Canadian Loud” emerged as a popular code for high-grade cannabis (often indica-dominant strains) or cannabis mixed with other synthetics. It gained traction as users sought alternatives or combinations to Tramadol’s effects. This phase marked a move toward imported or locally cultivated premium weed, sometimes laced with stronger chemicals. Youths in urban centers like Lagos, Kano, Jos, and Onitsha embraced it for its perceived “cleaner” high compared to opioids. However, it fueled polydrug use — combining cannabis with opioids, sedatives, or alcohol — amplifying health risks. Phase 3: Exol-5 – The Current Threat (2024–2026) Exol-5 (Benzhexol Hydrochloride / Trihexyphenidyl 5mg), originally a prescription medication for Parkinson’s disease and drug-induced movement disorders, has become the latest pharmaceutical being heavily abused. Why Exol-5? Euphoric Effects: Users report intense euphoria, hallucinations, and a sense of detachment — making it attractive as a cheap “upper” or escape. Accessibility: Sold over-the-counter or on the black market despite being a controlled prescription drug. NDLEA has seized millions of pills in single operations (e.g., 3.1 million pills in Kano in late 2024, and over 5.6 million combined with Tramadol in other busts). Street Names: Exol, Artane, Benzhexol, “Farin Mallam” (in Northern Nigeria). Demographics: Prevalent among youths, laborers, and even psychiatric patients who divert prescriptions. Studies show abuse rates as high as 25% among certain outpatient groups. Health Consequences: Anticholinergic toxicity: Confusion, dry mouth, blurred vision, urinary retention, constipation, and in high doses — delirium, psychosis, seizures, and heart issues. Long-term: Cognitive impairment, addiction, exacerbated mental health disorders. Often mixed with Tramadol, codeine, or cannabis, creating dangerous synergies. In cities like Jos, Exol-5 sits alongside diazepam, Rohypnol, and Tramadol on street markets, easily available to teenagers and young adults. Why This Evolution Continues Supply-Side Failures: Porous borders, corrupt officials, and overproduction of pharmaceuticals enable diversion. Demand Drivers: Unemployment, poverty, peer pressure, trauma, and the pursuit of performance enhancement (e.g., for “hustle” culture). Weak Regulation: Many pharmacies sell restricted drugs without prescriptions. Online and street vendors fill gaps. Displacement Effect: Cracking down on one substance (Tramadol/codeine) pushes users and dealers toward the next available option. NDLEA reports ongoing large seizures, but the problem persists due to high profitability and low risk for mid-level distributors. Broader Impacts on Nigerian Youths Education: Increased dropout rates and poor academic performance. Mental Health: Rising cases of psychosis and depression. Economy: Lost productivity among the working-age population. Crime and Violence: Drug-fueled robberies, cultism, and family breakdowns. Public Health System Strain: Overburdened hospitals treating overdoses and chronic complications. Young people aged 15–39 remain the hardest hit, with national surveys showing drug use prevalence significantly above global averages. What Must Be Done Stronger Enforcement: Consistent prosecution of corrupt enablers and large-scale traffickers. Regulation: Crackdown on rogue pharmacies and better tracking of prescription drugs. Prevention & Rehabilitation: School programs, community outreach, and expanded treatment centers (currently woefully inadequate). Economic Alternatives: Address root causes like youth unemployment. Public Awareness: Honest campaigns highlighting real dangers of “Exol-5” and similar drugs. Conclusion From Tramadol’s opioid grip to “Canadian” cannabis culture and now Exol-5’s anticholinergic highs, Nigeria’s drug crisis is mutating faster than responses can contain it. Exol-5 represents the dangerous new frontier — a legitimate medicine turned youth destroyer due to misuse and greed. Without urgent, multi-layered intervention — combining supply disruption, demand reduction, and socioeconomic support — an entire generation risks being lost to addiction. The time for half-measures is over. Nigeria’s future depends on winning this fight.