The International Narcotics Control Board⁸ has published the following figures for the consumption of narcotic drugs in Nigeria: codeine 296 kg; Pholcodine 19kg; pethidine 5 kg.

For the years 2000-2002, the average defined daily dose consumption of morphine for statistical purposes (S-DDD)⁹ in Nigeria was 0. This compares with other African countries as follows: Swaziland 1; Egypt 2; Uganda 4; Zimbabwe 13; Namibia 73; South Africa 103. Twenty nine countries reported no morphine consumption during 2000-2002 (Table 2).

laitan Soyannwo confirms that opioid analgesics (parenteral and oral) are not available in government stores and health facilities.¹⁰

Table 2 Average daily consumption of defined daily doses (for statistical purposes) of morphine per million inhabitants, 2000-2002: countries of Africa

Source: International Narcotics Control Board Narcotic Drugs: Estimated World Requirements for 2004. Statistics for 2002. New York: United Nations, 2004.