By Olugbenga Salami
Senators, on Tuesday, splitter on a bill to establish an institute for drug awareness and rehabilitation in the country, but scaled second reading after heated debate on the floor of the Red Chamber.
The Senate passed the proposal after a debate on the general principles of the bill, to coordinate and promote drug awareness, prevent substance abuse and facilitate the rehabilitation of drug users.
The apex legislative Assembly approved the bill for second reading after the sponsor, Senator Hanga Rufa’i (NNPP Kano Central) led a debate on the document.
Rufa’i pointed out that drug abuse had enabled crime in the country, and therefore, required an agency to address the menace, saying: “The objective of this bill is to raise awareness of drug abuse, drug trafficking and the rehabilitation of drug users,” he said.
However, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC Edo North, argued that, instead of creating a new institution to achieve the objectives of the bill, the existing ones like the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) should be strengthened.
He said: “I have serious concerns, there is no disputing the fact that drug abuse has become a national challenge,” the former Edo governor said.
“As we speak we have NDLEA which not only prosecutes traffickers, takes care of the garmount of drug abuse. I think what we have to do is look at the existing law of NDLEA to see how we can strengthen it.
“But with this idea of setting up agencies for everything, we will soon have laws against cough. We are spending so much on overhead. I’m not convinced that we need another body to compete with NDLEA.”
But Senator Babangida Hussaini (APC Jigawa North West) supported Oshiomhole’s position, arguing that there was no need to have a separate agency on drug matters when the NDLEA could do the work.
“Yesterday we were told that everyday new drugs are imported into Nigeria. I was shaken to my marrow when I was told that dry human fecal matter is turned to things to get high,” Uba said.
“We can look at the existing institutions to strengthen the matter.”
In his contribution, Senator Sumaila Kawu, (NNPP Kano South) indicated that some Senators might be culpable of funding and supporting drug abusers in their constituency, asserting that every politician must be subjected to drug tests before vying for a public office.
For his part, Senator Seriake Dickson (PDP- Bayelsa West) said: “Our nation, in addition to several other problems, is currently faced with a national crisis of narcotics.
“We have a narcotic crisis at the family level, at community levels, in our world, at local governments, and states all across the world.
“Because of the importance of the subject matter, let us not dismiss this bill or abort it at this stage.
“Let us at least, at this level, agree in general principle that there is a need to strengthen the mechanism for enforcement and pass this bill.