ABUJA/Nigeria: Senator Ned Nwoko has thrown his weight behind the proposed legislation to establish the National Institute on Drugs Awareness and Rehabilitation, declaring that Nigeria urgently needs a dedicated institutional framework to address the deepening crisis of substance abuse and addiction across the country.
Speaking at a one-day public hearing organized by the Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics, Nwoko countered concerns that the proposed institute would duplicate the functions of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), stressing that NDLEA’s mandate is heavily tilted toward enforcement rather than long-term care and prevention.
“The gap in our current drug response framework is glaring,” Nwoko said. “NDLEA’s focus is largely enforcement and interdiction, but what about sustained rehabilitation, grassroots awareness, school outreach, and long-term reintegration?”
The bill, sponsored by Senator Rufai Hanga, aims to establish a specialized agency responsible for public education, addiction recovery programs, and community reintegration — areas many experts say are currently underdeveloped in Nigeria’s drug policy.
Nwoko, who had earlier proposed a similar bill to create a National Centre for Substance Abuse Management in Ndemili, Delta State, said the push for such institutions is not just a political idea but a grassroots demand. “During my recent visit home, a student-led NGO approached me with a draft bill on the same issue. That’s proof that the need is urgent and widely recognized,” he said.
While commending Senator Hanga for taking legislative initiative on the issue, Nwoko urged the Senate to act decisively and not allow the growing drug crisis to outpace institutional response. “We must act with clarity and courage,” he stated. “Rehabilitation and awareness require more than enforcement — they need their own platform, strategy, and sustained support.”
