REPS DECLARE WAR ON DRUG ABUSE, TRAFFICKING
By: Safiya Abdulrahim Dabban
The House of Representatives has launched a major probe into Nigeria’s rising drug abuse crisis, vowing to expose systemic failures and stop the growing threat to public health and national security.
Chairman of the House Ad hoc Committee on Drugs, Trafficking, Alcohol and Tobacco Abuse, Oluwatimehin Adelegbe, said the investigation is aimed at uncovering regulatory gaps, strengthening institutions and saving lives, noting that drug abuse now poses a serious danger to the nation’s future.
He raised concerns over the targeting of minors through flavoured tobacco products and deceptive marketing, as well as the influx of fake drugs and substandard alcohol into Nigerian markets due to weak border enforcement.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime warned that drug use in Nigeria is alarmingly high, citing data that shows usage above the global average. The NDLEA also pledged full support for the House probe, reaffirming its commitment to stronger laws, better regulation and improved treatment systems to curb drug trafficking and abuse.