ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – Senate on Tuesday urged the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN) to develop a collaborative approach towards curbing the incidence of drug use and abuse within the country.
The Upper Legislative Chamber also urged the Federal Government to restructure and reposition the NDLEA to be able to meet the challenges of evasive drug traffickers, using Nigerians to traffic drugs.
These were sequel to a motion sponsored by Senator Gbenga Ashafa and 21 others, and entitled: Nigerians’ Involvement in Illicit Global Drugs Trade and Increase in Domestic Drug Abuse by Nigerian Youths.
Consequently, the Red Chamber mandate the its 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.
Presenting the motion, Ashafa expressed worry that the involvement of Nigerians in the dangerous enterprise is tarnishing the image of the country.
“Our nationals are viewed with suspicion and subjected to demeaning treatment at airports across the world as a result of this negative perception,” he added.
He noted with serious concern the engagement of some Nigerians in the usage and smuggling of hard drugs into South-East Asian countries and other parts of the world.
“The Malaysian authorities have again issued a strong statement that 40 percent 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.
“In their desperation, these Nigerians are disguising as university students, colluding with drug syndicates (predominantly outside Nigeria) there to undermine the visa system and gain entrance into Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and other drug traffic routes.
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“On getting there, they abandon (their) education agenda, and get busy with their illicit and illegal drug business activities; trading in opiates, cocaine, heroin, cannabis and amphetamines. The colleges/universities have been told to keep a lookout for those, who sign up for courses and don’t turn up,” he said.
He expressed disappointment that the Federal Government has not done anything to curb the menace, despite the fact that Nigeria currently tops the list of the countries involved in drug trafficking and drug use in West Africa.
“The Federal Government has not swung into strategic action to curb the menace of drug couriers and their sponsors both in and out of Nigeria. The NDLEA is doing its best within its powers, as presently constituted.
“While the incidence of lifting of the drugs from Nigeria in itself has become few and far between, those involved have found a way of picking up the narcotic substances, while in transit, considering that most flight from Nigeria to some of the countries at stake like Thailand and Indonesia are not direct flights.
“In April 2015, Indonesia, another South-East Asian country that imposes the death sentence on drug traffickers, executed four Nigerians, despite pleas for leniency by Nigeria, the United Nations and Amnesty International. The four were among the 11 Nigerians facing execution for drug offences.
“In spite of this, some desperate Nigerians are not deterred. According to newspaper reports, the case for leniency was rendered impotent because, at that point, seven fresh cases of drug trafficking involving Nigerians had just emerged in Indonesia.
“Apart from the cases in Malaysia and Indonesia, at least one Nigerian is on the death row in Singapore for drug-related offences. But the situation in China, which also punishes drug trafficking with death penalty, is alarming. Two Nigerians were executed in China in April 2015, but 120 other Nigerians are still on the death row for drug-related offenses, with 74 of them being held in Guandong and Guanxi provinces. Harm Reduction International (HRI), a United Kingdom-based NGO, said 33 countries impose the death penalty for drug related offenses.
“Drug trafficking is not only a challenge in the international sense of the word, but also that the usage of different harmful narcotic substances, including the abuse of prescription medicines by different demographics of the society (particularly the youth) constitute a major problem in our society.
“Across the length and breadth of Nigeria, East, West, North and South, the incidence of young Nigerians abusing substances including Codeine, Rochephenol, Tramadol, heroin, Cannabis Sativa (Indian Hemp) and even different grades of crack cocaine have become prevalent.
“The implications of the drug trade are staggering. Drug syndicates are destroying the lives of others, UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) reported that there were 183,000 drug- related deaths worldwide, with drug dependent users rising to about 39 million. Drug use is closely linked to violent crimes and terrorism in many parts of the world, Nigeria inclusive;
“Young Nigerians are being distracted and derailed by the high prevalence of drug abuse/trafficking and as such have become willing tools for crime/ criminal syndicates who find it easier to brainwash young Nigerians in their state of alternative reality or what they refer to as ‘highness’.
“The scenario in Nigeria is also unnerving, in a 2012 report, the International Narcotics Control Board said that Nigeria, was a transit point for cocaine from Latin America destined for Europe. Nigeria also topped the list of the countries involved in drug trafficking and drug use in West Africa, and also the list of drug couriers arrested in Europe in 2011 and 2012,” he concluded.