By Aaron Ossai
The House of Representatives is considering a bill to empower the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to establish, maintain and operate drug abuse treatment, counselling and rehabilitation centres across Nigeria.
The bill, sponsored by Hon. Garba Ibrahim, a lawmaker from Kano State, passed second reading during plenary on Thursday.
Leading debate on general principles of the proposed legislation, Hon. Ibrahim said the bill seeks to strengthen Nigeria’s response to substance abuse by integrating treatment and rehabilitation with existing drug enforcement efforts.
He explained that the proposed 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 him, although the NDLEA has recorded significant achievements in drug seizures, arrests and prosecutions, substance abuse has increasingly become 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,” the lawmaker said.
He noted that international best practices in drug control now favour a balanced approach that combines law enforcement with treatment, counselling and social reintegration.
Ibrahim argued that Nigeria could not effectively tackle the growing problem of drug abuse through arrests and prosecutions alone; stressing the need for a system that also addresses the health and social needs of people struggling with substance dependence.
He said the proposed legislation would enable the NDLEA to expand access to professional treatment and rehabilitation services, giving affected persons the opportunity to recover and reintegrate into society.
The lawmaker added that strengthening rehabilitation services could help reduce drug-related crimes, ease pressure on families and healthcare facilities, and provide a more sustainable response to substance abuse.
The proposed amendment is expected to broaden the agency’s responsibilities beyond drug interdiction and prosecution by providing a stronger institutional framework for treatment, recovery and rehabilitation nationwide.
