ID Cabasa drug abuse warning highlights music industry influence and calls for collective action to tackle Nigeria’s growing substance crisis

Veteran music producer Olumide Ogunade, popularly known as ID Cabasa, on 14 February in Lagos issued a stark warning over Nigeria’s escalating drug abuse crisis, urging collective action from families, policymakers and the entertainment industry during an appearance on TVC TownSquare.

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Speaking on the programme themed War Against Drug Abuse: Taking Control of Today, Protecting the Future, ID Cabasa cautioned that substance misuse should not be viewed as an isolated problem affecting only users.

The producer argued that the social consequences ripple across communities and generations.

“If we say it’s just the users that are having issues, even you that you’re not using it, it is having an effect on you. We all contributed to this beast. Music has its own subtle way of creating mindset,” ID Cabasa said.

The industry stakeholder maintained that public conversations often focus on symptoms rather than root causes. While families are frequently blamed, ID Cabasa insisted that the crisis cannot be reduced to parental shortcomings alone, noting that many households raise children who make different life choices despite shared environments.

ID Cabasa further stressed that any sustainable solution must involve reassessing societal values, particularly definitions of success and status.

In a culture where material possessions often determine perceived greatness, young people may feel compelled to pursue wealth at any cost, he warned.

The producer also raised concerns about alleged indirect sponsorship within the music industry, suggesting that certain financiers strategically position themselves to normalise drug-related lifestyles through subtle influence.

Beyond criticism, ID Cabasa challenged opponents of drug culture to back their stance with tangible support.

The producer questioned whether critics are equally prepared to fund advocacy campaigns and promote music that advances healthier values.

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ID Cabasa concluded that confronting the drug abuse crisis requires coordinated and decisive action from industry players, families and civil society to safeguard Nigeria’s youth and secure a more stable future.