The House of Representatives has asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on drug abuse in the country.
The lawmakers urged the Federal Government to develop preventive strategies such as creating a general as well as a demographically-targeted enlightening campaign against drug abuse and its consequences and to direct the National Orientation Agency to device enlightenment campaign programme against drug abuse in the country.
They further urged the Federal Government to increase the budgetary allocation to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (Agency) and ensure that the agency gets its funding directly from the presidency as was the case when it was set up in 1989.
The resolutions were sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by Hon. Francis Agbo at the plenary, Thursday.
Moving the motion, Agbo noted that there is an organic correlation between the level of narcotic drug abuse and the frequency and severity of crimes in every society, including Nigeria.
He also noted that it is not surprising that those arrested for various crimes are drugs addicts and traffickers.
He lamented that illicit drug addiction has deeply permeated the Nigeria society so much so that young people of 15 years old and below, are now heavy narcotic drugs.
He said, “Regrets that the upsurge in illicit drug abuse has created an underground economy where crimes flourish as opportunity criminals now battle for turf and proceeds while at the same time, exploiting and corrupting the legitimate business environment of the country. This is antithetical to the corporate image of Nigeria as no country wants its economy to be influenced by the drug barons.
“So far, government at all levels, and particularly the Federal Government has continued to pay lip service to the war against illicit drug abuse as NDLEA, the agency statutorily set up to wage war against the narcotic industry remains underfunded, understaffed and ill-equipped. It is against this background, that the NDLEA remains a toothless bulldog! The implication of this is that, while narcotic drug abuse progresses at a geometric progression, the war against it progresses at an arithmetic progression”.
He expressed concerns that the tragic phenomenon now affects all strata and demographic groups of our Nigeria society, hence the need for governments at all levels and the family unit work closely to combat this menace.
He warned that failure to destroy narcotic drug addiction as a country, it will destroy Nigeria.
Adopting the motion, the House directed all relevant Federal Government Health Institutions to develop new and improved treatments to help people with substance abuse disorders recover and achieve a normal life.
They also resolved to prevail on the Federal Government to establish functional rehabilitation centers which will have the Financial and bureaucratic status of Specialist Hospitals with Psychiatrists, Psychologist, Toxicologists, Professional Councilors and other Experts to manage these Hospitals.
Meanwhile, the lawmakers will hold their valedictory session on Tuesday June 6, 2023.
House Asks Tinubu to Declare State of Emergency on Drug Abuse
*Says failure to curb menace will destroy Nigeria
