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Following the recent decline of assent to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025 by President Bola Tinubu, the Senate on Monday challenged the NDLEA and National Human Rights Commission, NHRC to work together to pursue a comprehensive review of the country’s anti-drug war regime.
The National Assembly had in June 2025 completed the process of reviewing the NDLEA Act, but President Tinubu didn’t sign it into law, citing its breach of or conflict with Section 58(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The president explained that the proposed law seeks to give the NDLEA to retain a portion of the proceeds from drug-related crimes instead of the the current arrangement whereby all proceeds of crime must be paid into the Confiscated and Forfeited Properties Account.
Speaking at a technical workshop of the NHRC@Civil Society, Human Rights Defenders Forum and Human Rights Expo in Abuja, Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele commended the NHRC and its strategic partners for organising the programme aimed at crafting a comprehensive drug harm reduction strategy for the country.
The workshop, titled “Towards a Comprehensive Drug Harm Reduction Strategy in Nigeria: Legislative Perspectives and Opportunities” was convened to improve drug laws and policies, so that they are not detrimental to the health and wellbeing of people who use drugs and their communities
Bamidele, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Charles Luri-Bala noted that the Senate “recognise that the challenges posed by illicit drug use require a multi-sectoral approach that respects the fundamental rights of all persons, particularly those in vulnerable populations.”
“At the National Assembly, we believe that an effective drug strategy must shift away from overly punitive policies that only exacerbate stigma to comprehensive approach that prioritize treatment, rehabilitation, and social reintegration.
“These are the issues that informed the decision of the 10th National Assembly to amend the National Drug Law Enforcement Act, 2004. But Mr. President declined assent to the bill because it conflicted with Section 58(4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended),” he stressed.
The Senate Leader observed that the fact that the President declined assent to the bill in June 2025 “does not mean the bill cannot be brought again if the section that conflicts with the Constitution is substantially addressed.”
He, therefore, urged the stakeholders to work together towards this end “because the bill, if eventually enacted, will revolutionise the country’s anti-drug war, pointing out its significance to national development.”
According to him, the lawmakers “are committed to reviewing and supporting an amendment to the legislation that would provide adequate legal and institutional backing for evidence‑based drug‑harm‑reduction strategies.”
“The insights and recommendations generated from this workshop, particularly from the legal and specialist perspectives, will be invaluable for the National Assembly as we consider necessary policy reforms,” he added.
