By Andrew Agbese
Narcotic drug trafficking and abuse of psychotropic substances has recently been described as a scourge which can destroy Nigeria if left unchecked!
Nigeria shares in the global problem with over 14 milion persons, representing 14.4 percent of the country’s population said to be abusing such substances.
The drug problem has put the nation on an alert right from the colonial days when the British colonial administration, promulgated the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (Act) of 1935.Subsequent administrations after independence were to follow this up with stiffer and stronger laws.
The General Ironsi Administration was to promulgate the Indian Hemp Decree No. 19 of 1966, while the Murtala Mohammed administration came with Decree No.34 of 1975 before the General Muhammadu Buhari administration came up with the Indian Hemp (Amendment) Decree and the Special Tribunal (Miscellaneous Offences) Decree No. 20 of 1984 which prescribed the death penalty for illegal trafficking in narcotic drugs!This shows how early the drug problem started showing its ugly face in Nigeria and the measures taken by past governments to tackle it.But decades after identifying the problem, the menace is not only alive but threatening to expand to an epidemic proportion.
It is for this reason that a concerted effort was put in place to strengthen the laws establishing the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) which is statutorily mandated to coordinate the fight against the drug scourge in Nigeria.The NDLEA was established by the Ibrahim Babangida administration in 1989, to among other things, prosecute the “war” against illicit drug traffic, consumption of narcotic drugs and the investigation and prosecution of offenders.While it has tried over the years, the agency has been weighed down by many problems such as insufficient funds, lack of adequate personnel and outmoded tools or equipment to prosecute the “war” against the drug scourge.Apart from that, the law establishing the NDLEA also needs some finetuning to make the agency more efficient in carrying out the tasks before it.
It was for this reason that the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) organised a 2-Day Sensitisation and Drug Prevention Training cum a 3- Day session for Senators and House of Representatives members to meet with other stakeholders and experts to review the law establishing the NDLEA.Chairman, House Committee on Narcotic Drugs, Rep. Francis Ottah Agbo, chaired the session, which analysed and deliberated on the items on the bills being proposed by the National Assembly to amend the National Drug Law Enforcement Act Cap 30 Laws Of the Federation Of Nigeria (LFN) and to strengthen the NDLEA.
The session was preceded by a two- day training which focused on appreciating the depth of the drug scourge globally and how best to tackle it. The amendments sought by the Senate Committee headed by Senator Hezekiah Dinka, are in the areas of strengthening the NDLEA by proposing the Establishment of additional scientific laboratories for the agency, increase in amount of fines for punishment and others. While the House of Representatives Committee is seeking an amendment to make the agency financially independent and to get first line funding from the Presidency.
The lower chamber is also proposing an amendment to the Police Trust Fund ( Establishment) Act to make the NDLEA a beneficiary of the fund, as well, as an amendment to the principal act establishing the NDLEA by enabling it undertake drug tests on those seeking elective offices, military and paramilitary personnel and others such as fresh students in tertiary institutions, aviators, navigators, drivers etc.
The NDLEA also took the opportunity to make its input and also suggested various ways it can be made more effective to carry out its functions.It suggested areas such as increase in fine, transfer of seized substances and persons arrested by sister agencies to the agency for prosecution, granting it more powers to review and establish units, directorates or departments within it as deems necessary.
It was a fruitful deliberation at the end of the session as common positions which would not encumber the laws but make it more implementable were adopted.
Rep Ottah Agbo while presiding, noted the commitment of participants and commended his colleagues for coming out to give in their best as well as the other stakeholders and experts who made useful contributions.He also commended the UNODC for organizing the Retreat, saying it would go a long way in helping Nigeria win the drug war.Barring any hitches, it is expected that the National Assembly will hold a public hearing based on the recommendations to provide adequate laws for the fight against the drug problem.
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