Korede Abdullah 
LAGOS, Nigeria – The Senate has urged the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to collaborate on reviewing Nigeria’s anti-drug legislation to ensure a more comprehensive and rights-based approach.
Speaking on Monday during a technical workshop titled “Towards a Comprehensive Drug Harm Reduction Strategy in Nigeria: Legislative Perspectives and Opportunities,” Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Charles Luri-Bala, stressed that effective drug policy must go beyond punitive measures.
“At the National Assembly, we believe that an effective drug strategy must shift away from overly punitive policies that exacerbate stigma toward a comprehensive approach prioritising treatment and rehabilitation,” he said.
Bamidele explained that although the National Assembly completed amendments to the NDLEA Act in June 2025, President Bola Tinubu declined assent over concerns that the bill conflicted with Section 58(4) of the Constitution.
He noted that the contentious provision sought to empower the NDLEA to retain a portion of proceeds from drug-related crimes, contrary to current law that mandates all such assets be paid into the Confiscated and Forfeited Properties Account. According to him, the bill could be reconsidered once the conflicting areas are properly addressed.
The Senate leader commended the NHRC and its partners for convening the workshop and urged participants to provide insights that would help lawmakers refine the country’s drug laws.
He emphasised that a balanced strategy—one that integrates enforcement with treatment, rehabilitation, and social reintegration—is essential to national development.
Bamidele assured stakeholders that the legislature remains committed to supporting amendments that will strengthen the legal and institutional frameworks for evidence-based drug harm reduction in Nigeria.
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Oluwatobi Adu 
Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
Koko Maxwella 