News Post

The Senate on Tuesday, March 1, 2016 deliberated upon and ultimately passed a Motion on “Nigerians involvement in illicit global drugs trade and increase in domestic drug abuse by Nigerian youths”, sponsored by Sen. Gbenga Ashafa (Lagos East). Also, the Upper Legislative Chamber debated and passed for second and third readings the Federal Capital Territory 2015 Appropriation Bill of N193.8 billion, thereby extending its implementation from 1st January to 31st March, 2016 as requested by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Leading the debate on the Motion, Sen. Ashafa noted with serious concern the engagement of some Nigerians in the usage and smuggling of hard drugs into Southeast Asian countries and other parts of the World. He disclosed that the Malaysian Authorities have again issued strong statement that 40 per cent of the foreigners being arrested for drug offences are from Nigeria. So far, 30 out of 80 foreign students arrested in 2015 were Nigerians, in a country where drug trafficking attracts the supreme retribution.

Sen. Ashafa added that the implications of drug trade are staggering. Drug syndicates are destroying the lives of others, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report, there were 183, 000 drug related deaths worldwide, with drug dependent users rising about 39 million. Drug use is closely linked to violent crimes and terrorism in many parts of the world, Nigeria inclusive. The scenario in Nigeria is also unnerving, the International Narcotics Control Board’s 2012 report said Nigeria was a transit point for cocaine from Latin America destined for Europe.

The Parliamentarian revealed that Nigeria topped the list of countries involved in drug trafficking and drug user in West Africa and also the list of drug couriers arrested in Europe in 2011 and 2012. The Motion having enjoyed an overwhelming support of Distinguished Senators was passed with three resolutions below:

1) Urge the Executive arm of government to restructure and reposition the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to be able to meet the evasive drug traffickers using Nigeria to traffic drugs.

2) Urge the Nigeria Police Force, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) as well as the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN) to develop a collaborative approach towards curbing the incidence of drug use and abuse within the country.

3) Mandate the Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics to consider an urgent amendment of section 23 of the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria Act, to include the sale of prescription pills over the counter as an offence punishable by the Act.

Meanwhile, the Senate has debated and passed for second and third readings the sum of N193, 864, 491, 470 as Federal Capital Territory 2015 Appropriation Bill. The passage of the Bill followed a request by President Muhammadu Buhari seeking the extension of the implementation of the Act from 1ST January to 31ST March, 2016. The Bill’s passage was made possible by suspending Senate Rule 81 (6) that allowed the Bill to be committed into the Committee of Supply immediately after its second Reading for clause by clause consideration and ultimate third reading and passage. 

However, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki has named the Senate Conference Committee for the harmonization of the differences in the two versions of the legislation passed by the two Chambers. The members of the Committee include Sen. Dino Melaye Chairman, Sen. Abdulfatai Buhari, Sen. Alasoadura Donald, and Sen. Ben Murray Bruce.