The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to urgently declare a state of emergency on drug abuse and develop preventive strategies such as creating a general as well as a demographically-targeted enlightenment campaigns against drug abuse.
The House also urge the Federal Government to ensure increased funding for the national Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Drug Regulatory Agencies and direct its relevant health institutions to develop new and improved treatment regimens to help people with substance abuse disorders recover and regain normal lives.
It further urged the Federal Government to establish functional rehabilitation centres that would have the status of specialist hospitals with psychiatrists, psychologists, toxicologists, professional councillors and other relevant experts.
The Green Chamber called on the national Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the National Agency For Food and Drug Administration and Control and other relevant Agencies to develop and enforce a National Prescription Policy.
It mandated the Committees on Narcotic Drugs, Healthcare Services and Legislative Compliance to ensure implementation and report back in three months for further legislative action.
These resolutions followed a motion on the ‘Need to Declare a State of Emergency on the Menace of Drug Abuse in Nigeria, sponsored by Francis Agbo (PDP, Benue) and Olusola Fatoba (APC, Ekiti).
Presenting the motion, Agbo said, the House: “Notes that a study has shown that there is a correlation between the level of drug abuse and the frequency and severity of crimes in any society, including trans-border crimes, as a result of which a vicious circle of drugs-crimes has been created, hence, it is often not surprising that many of those arrested for various kinds of crimes had been drug addicts.
“Also notes that drug abuse and its effects are considered as a major challenge confronting teenagers and the youths globally, and it is now endemic in Nigeria among the youths which has made it not only scourge but a threat to public health and security of any nation as well as a pathway to contracting all kinds of diseases such as arrhythmias, irregular heartbeat, cramps, coma and even, untimely death.
“Further notes that incidents of drug abuse and addiction knows no age limits, to the extent that young ones of 15 years of age are equally involved and more youths are now getting involved in criminal activities than hitherto, partly because they consider indulgence in drug as fun or due to peer group pressure while some do so owing to lack of home training or easy access to drugs.
“Equally notes that the proliferation of drug use and the demand for illicit substances have also created an underground economy of its own where crimes flourish as opportunistic criminals battle for turf and the proceeds while exploiting addicts, corrupting and victimizing innocent people, aside from the fact that the habit hurts the victims finances as a lot of money is expended on maintaining the habit of drug or substance abuse which is also a great influencer of anti-social behaviour.
“Aware that the country is fast transiting from a corridor to a nest of barons who possess enormous resources with which they live ostentiously while glamourising both drug trafficking and its abuse, a situation that has negatively impacted on the youths, thus luring many of them into the venture as result of which Nigeria has been rated by a recent statistics of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) as having the highest number of its citizens serving jail terms for drug-related offences across the world.
“Concerned that cannabis, described as the most abused drug globally by the World health Organisation, can be obtained from all corners around the country, yet another worrisome trend is the growing abuse of synthetic and designer drugs, coupled with the increasing number of household items and other easily-accessible narcotizing agents (amphetamine, methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, plant thinner, glue, codeine-laced cough syrup, cement and animal excreta which are widely abused) which have joined the list of abused substances in the country.
“Also aware of efforts made by the Federal Government in placing a ban on importation and production of some unregulated drugs such as codeine, tramadol and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) related cough syrup and the consequent arrests and prosecution of drug offenders which does not
appear to have deterred them as the NDLEA recently raised an alarm on the increasing inflow of new substances, revealing that 796 of them had been discovered, from the 739, in the previous year.
“Also concerned that the development is linked to the continued upsurge in criminal activities such as rape, cultism, kidnappings, armed robbery, banditry and even accidents, all of which have created unacceptable burden on individuals, families, communities and the country at large.
“Recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari, desirous of combating the menace of drug abuse, recently constituted a two-tier Presidential Intervention Structure on the Elimination of Drug Abuse”.
James Kwen, Abuja
