Drug abuse: Reps to empower NDLEA to establish rehabilitation centres nationwide
The proposed amendment was designed to strengthen treatment, rehabilitation and social reintegration for... The post Drug abuse: Reps to empower NDLEA to establish rehabilitation centres nationwide appeared first on…
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is Nigeria's primary agency charged with combating drug trafficking and abuse, a problem that successive governments and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime have flagged as a growing public health and security concern in the country, particularly among young people. While the agency has powers of enforcement and interdiction, its role in establishing and running treatment and rehabilitation facilities for drug users has historically been limited, with such services largely handled by state governments, private operators and NGOs of varying capacity and reach.
The bill, which has passed second reading in the House of Representatives, seeks to expand the NDLEA's statutory mandate to include setting up, managing and operating rehabilitation centres across the country, with an emphasis on treatment, rehabilitation and social reintegration of drug users. Both Tribune Online and ThisDay report the same legislative step, though further details on funding, timelines for implementation, and how the expanded centres would be structured or staffed have yet to be disclosed. The bill would still need to clear further stages, including public hearings and a third reading, before it can be transmitted for presidential assent.