Aisha Buhari, wife of President Muhammadu Buhari has lamented over reports of cough syrup abuse, as revealed in an investigation by the BBC.

The medication contains codeine, a highly addictive opiate, and can only be sold legally with a prescription.

But a recent government report alleged that three million bottles of codeine cough syrup are drunk every day in just two of Nigeria’s northern states.

Mrs Buhari said on Instagram,

“I have noted with alarm the exponential rise of drug abuse in our country, especially in the north. As a parent, I am deeply saddened by this fact, it is important that we interrupt the trend and encourage our children to stay drug-free.

I call on all security agencies, lawmakers, judiciary, drug manufacturers, civil society, regulators, teachers, parents, neighbours and YOU to take this as a personal war and halt the menace.”