By Iradat Abdullateef
The House of Representatives has invited key regulatory agencies, security bodies, pharmaceutical companies, and international organisations to submit memoranda ahead of its probe into the growing prevalence, trafficking, and regulation of illicit drugs across Nigeria.
Those summoned include the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the Federal Ministry of Health, and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). Others are the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, and the Nigerian Correctional Service.
Major pharmaceutical companies such as Emzor, Fidson, May & Baker, Juhel, and Dana, alongside the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN), have also been asked to make submissions. The drinks and tobacco industries — including Nigerian Breweries Plc, Guinness Nigeria Plc, and International Distillers Limited — are part of the probe list.
Professional associations like the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Nigerian Medical Association, and the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria are expected to provide expert perspectives, while the Nigerian Bar Association, Civil Society Network on Substance Abuse, and National Youth Council of Nigeria will contribute civic input.
Global development partners such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and UNICEF were also invited to submit memoranda.
The Ad-hoc Committee on Drug Abuse and Trafficking, chaired by Hon. Oluwatimehin Adelegbe (Owo/Ose Federal Constituency, Ondo State), was inaugurated to examine the root causes of drug abuse, identify regulatory weaknesses, and propose sustainable solutions.
In a statement on Sunday, Adelegbe said the committee would “interface with relevant stakeholders to identify causes and proffer solutions,” adding that public memoranda would help guide its final report to the House.
The committee is expected to make far-reaching recommendations aimed at strengthening national drug control mechanisms, promoting public health, and curbing substance-related crimes across the country.
