The Senate has called on the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to work together on a comprehensive review of the nation’s anti-drug legislation.
The move aims to modernise the framework to balance law enforcement with public health and human rights considerations.
The call was made during a technical workshop on Monday in Abuja themed “Towards a Comprehensive Drug Harm Reduction Strategy in Nigeria”, which brought together civil society organisations, human rights defenders, and government officials to discuss ways of improving drug policies without causing harm to vulnerable populations.
Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, who addressed the workshop through his Chief of Staff, Charles Luri-Bala, highlighted that the 10th National Assembly had earlier amended the NDLEA Act (2004) in June to address emerging challenges in drug control.
However, President Bola Tinubu withheld assent, citing a constitutional conflict in the bill.
Bamidele emphasised that illicit drug challenges require a multi-sectoral approach that protects the rights of vulnerable groups while ensuring effective enforcement.
He urged a shift from strictly punitive measures to a framework prioritising treatment, rehabilitation, and reintegration of drug offenders.
“The President’s refusal to assent does not preclude the bill from returning to the National Assembly once the conflicting provisions are resolved,” Bamidele noted.
He also stressed the importance of stakeholder collaboration in supporting reforms that could transform Nigeria’s anti-drug strategy and contribute to national development.
The senator assured participants that lawmakers remained committed to providing legal backing for evidence-based harm-reduction policies and that the insights gathered from the workshop would guide future legislative actions.
This initiative represents a broader effort by the National Assembly to align Nigeria’s drug enforcement policies with global best practices, while respecting human rights and enhancing public health outcomes.
