The call follows the National Assembly’s completion of amendments to the NDLEA Act, 2004 in June 2025, which President Bola Tinubu declined to assent to due to conflicts with Section 58(4) of the 1999 Constitution.
Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), made the remarks during a technical workshop organised by NHRC with civil society groups and human rights defenders. The workshop, “Towards a Comprehensive Drug Harm Reduction Strategy in Nigeria: Legislative Perspectives and Opportunities”, focused on reducing the harmful effects of drug use while protecting human rights.
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Charles Luri-Bala, Bamidele commended the NHRC and partners, noting that effective drug policies require a multi-sectoral approach that combines enforcement, treatment, rehabilitation, and social reintegration.
“At the National Assembly, we believe that effective drug strategies must shift from overly punitive policies toward a comprehensive approach prioritising treatment and rehabilitation,” Bamidele said.
He explained that while the President declined assent due to constitutional conflicts, the bill could be reconsidered if the conflicting sections are revised.
Bamidele highlighted that the disputed bill proposed allowing NDLEA to retain a portion of proceeds from drug-related crimes, instead of all confiscated assets being paid into the Confiscated and Forfeited Properties Account.
He assured participants that lawmakers are committed to supporting amendments that provide legal and institutional frameworks for a balanced and effective anti-drug strategy, which he described as critical to Nigeria’s national development.
