The House of Representatives is considering a bill seeking to empower the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to establish, maintain, and operate drug abuse treatment, counselling, and rehabilitation centres across the country.
The bill, sponsored by Garba Ibrahim, a lawmaker from Kano,
passed second reading during plenary on Thursday.
Moving a motion for the consideration of the bill, Ibrahim
said the proposed legislation seeks to strengthen the country’s response to
substance abuse through treatment and rehabilitation alongside law enforcement.
The lawmaker said the proposed amendment would provide a
legal backing for the restructuring, regulation and professional management of
drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation centres under the supervision of
qualified medical practitioners.
He said although the NDLEA had recorded significant
successes in drug enforcement, seizures, arrests and prosecutions, substance
abuse had evolved into a serious public health and social challenge,
particularly among young people and other vulnerable groups.
“The increasing prevalence of substance dependence has
placed enormous strain on families, communities, health institutions and the
criminal justice system,” he said.
“Modern international drug control standards now emphasise a
balanced approach that combines enforcement with treatment, counselling and
social reintegration.”
Ibrahim argued that Nigeria’s response to drug abuse must go
beyond a predominantly punitive approach to incorporate treatment, counselling,
rehabilitation and social reintegration.
The federal lawmaker said expanding access to treatment and
rehabilitation could help reduce drug-related crimes while providing a more
effective and sustainable response to substance abuse in Nigeria.
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