On January 20, 2024, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command apprehended 27-year-old dispatch rider, Magaji Adamu, for allegedly transporting multiple cartons of nitrous oxide, commonly known as “laughing gas,” suspected to be intended for illegal use. Adamu, a graduate of Gidan Waya College of Education in Kafanchan, Kaduna, had been working with the logistics platform Gonymble since December 2024. He confessed that this was his fourth delivery of the substance, which he received from an individual identified as Mr. Danladi near a police station in Jabi, Abuja, earning N5,000 per delivery.
Initially believing the gas was for medical purposes, Adamu cooperated with law enforcement upon discovering its actual use, leading officers to his residence where additional quantities were found.
This incident underscores a growing concern in Nigeria regarding the misuse of nitrous oxide. Traditionally utilized for medical sedation and in food processing, nitrous oxide has gained popularity among young people seeking its euphoric effects. When inhaled, it can induce short-lived sensations of euphoria, giggling, hallucinations, and lightheadedness. However, prolonged abuse poses significant health risks, including memory loss, depression, lowered blood pressure, oxygen deprivation, nerve damage, and heart complications.
In response to the rising misuse, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) initiated a nationwide crackdown on the illegal sale and recreational use of nitrous oxide in July 2023. The agency emphasized the dangers associated with its abuse, such as dizziness, disorientation, fainting spells, hallucinations, and other neurological complications. NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd), urged parents, guardians, and stakeholders to remain vigilant and warn young individuals against experimenting with or abusing the substance.
The crackdown was partly prompted by viral social media content depicting individuals inhaling gas from balloons to achieve a high. One notable instance involved a Nigerian rapper whose photo holding a balloon sparked widespread speculation about the use of laughing gas. Such content has contributed to the normalization and spread of nitrous oxide misuse among the youth.
Globally, the recreational use of nitrous oxide has raised alarms. A report highlighted the emergence of branded nitrous oxide products, like “Galaxy Gas,” becoming viral sensations online. Videos on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) have shown individuals inhaling from colorful canisters, leading to concerns about the potential health risks and the influence on impressionable audiences.
The arrest of Magaji Adamu serves as a stark reminder of the escalating issue of nitrous oxide abuse in Nigeria. It highlights the need for increased public awareness, stricter enforcement of regulations, and proactive community engagement to curb the misuse of this substance and safeguard public health.
