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 Nigeria.
Gatekeepers News reports that the bill, sponsored by Garba Ibrahim, a lawmaker representing Kano State, passed second reading during plenary on Thursday.
Presenting the bill for consideration, Ibrahim said the proposed legislation aims to strengthen Nigeria’s response to substance abuse by complementing law enforcement efforts with treatment, counselling and rehabilitation services.
He explained that the amendment would provide a legal framework for the establishment, regulation and professional management of drug treatment and rehabilitation centres under the supervision of qualified medical practitioners.
According to the lawmaker, although the NDLEA has recorded significant successes in drug enforcement, seizures, arrests and prosecutions, substance abuse has evolved into a major 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 approach to tackling drug abuse should extend beyond punitive measures to include treatment, counselling, rehabilitation and support for the reintegration of affected individuals into society.
He said expanding access to treatment and rehabilitation services could help reduce drug-related crimes while providing a more effective and sustainable response to substance abuse across the country.
