By Joy Odor
The Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics organized a public hearing on a Bill seeking to establish the National Institute on Drugs Awareness and Rehabilitation.
The proposed Institute aimed to address the growing drug abuse crisis in Nigeria through education, rehabilitation, and reintegration programs.
In his address, Senator Rufai Hanga, sponsor of the bill, argued that the current response to drug abuse is enforcement-heavy and lacks sustained rehabilitation and public awareness.
However, some stakeholders praised the bill as a timely intervention, while others opposed it, citing duplication of functions with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and strain on limited government resources.
Officials from the Ministry of Justice and NDLEA strongly opposed the bill, asserting that the agency already carries out most of the proposed institute’s responsibilities.
They argued that creating a new agency would lead to duplication, resource wastage, and inter-agency conflict.
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) and Nigeria Customs Service endorsed the bill, advocating for inter-agency collaboration and inclusion in the proposed institute’s governance structure.
While the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs supported the bill, urging the inclusion of a female representative on the proposed institute’s board and advocating for family-oriented rehabilitation programs.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare urged the Senate to strengthen existing institutions, warning that establishing a new agency could undermine years of policy development and inter-agency coordination.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) cautioned against establishing a new body, warning that it may create “fragmented services, resource conflicts, and diminished efficiency.
The Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics will carefully weigh the arguments on both sides and proceed with further readings and committee reviews in the coming weeks.
The bill’s fate will depend on the Senate’s consideration of the most strategic approach to improving Nigeria’s national drug response.
