A dramatic divide erupted among Nigerian senators as they debated a bill to establish the National Institute for Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation.
The contentious proposal seeks to tackle the country’s raging drug abuse crisis, but some lawmakers argue it duplicates existing efforts by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Senator Ismaila Kawu’s impassioned plea – “Can anyone here swear to the Quran or Bible that you are not in any way supporting a drug-abusing or intoxicating youth in your constituency to take drugs?” – underscored the urgency and moral complexity of the issue.
“We need to create a space where before contesting elections or before taking appointments at whatever position in government, must go for drug tests,” Senator Kawu emphasized.
Senator Sani Hanga Rufai, the bill’s sponsor, stressed, “Substance abuse, which includes the misuse of alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs, has severe consequences on individuals and society as a whole. It contributes to various health problems, such as liver disease, cardiovascular disorders, mental health issues, and even death.”
“The objectives of this Bill are to raise public awareness about the dangers of drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking; conduct research and collate data to develop effective strategies for drug abuse prevention and rehabilitation,” Senator Rufai explained.
However, opposition voices were loud. Senator Adams Oshiomhole argued, “Agree we must deal decisively with drug-related issues, but I’m not convinced that we need to establish yet another agency that will be competing with the NDLEA.”
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Senator Gbenga Daniel echoed this sentiment, saying, “My own point of dissent appears to fall in line with what Senator Adams Oshiomhole said. And as much as there is indeed a need to do something, how we do it appears to be the issue.”
On the other hand, Senator Abdul Ningi passionately declared, “If we are going to have ten agencies in this country that will deal with the problem of drugs, so be it. Drug is the mother of all evil.”
The Senate’s Deputy President, Senator Barau Jibrin, ultimately referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics for further review, amidst calls for decisive action against Nigeria’s drug epidemic