ABUJA – The National Conference Committee on Social Sector has recommended stiffer penalties for persons and corporate bodies that produce, sell or knowingly use fake, adulterated or substandard drugs.
The Chairperson of the Committee, Mrs Josephine Anenih, who read the recommendation, while presenting the committee’s report at plenary on Wednesday, said the penalties should include life imprisonment.
Chief Mike Ahamba, an elder statesman in the conference, declared his support for life imprisonment to serve as deterrent to those who indulge in the unwholesome act.
Ahamba, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), emphasised the need for stringent punishment for such persons, describing them as murderers.
Dr Magdalene Dura, a delegate representing Benue, said there was a need to include drug trafficking and drug abuse in the committee’s recommendations as acts that should be punishable.
She called on narcotic and hard drug control agencies to intensify effort in collaborating with other countries, to bring the increasing level of drug trafficking and abuse under control.
She called for, “drug education for children in all schools and at home to educate them on proper use of drugs and dangers of drug abuse”.
Esther Andrew, a delegate representing People Living with Disabilities, called for a policy to check herbal drugs, considering the negative impact of such drugs.
She advised Nigerians to cultivate the culture of going for annual check up in order to attend to likely health problems that might affect their lives.
“Herbal drugs have caused havoc because they were tested and also don’t have prescription of usage.
“In fact, some of these herbal drugs cause disabilities because in the process of applying them, a lot have been rendered blind.
“I want to, therefore, advise that, policies should be put in place to check this because, these drugs are meant to be tested.
“Also, some of these drug dealers do not look healthy,” he said.
On his part, Jonathan Temlong, an elder statesman, called for drug and alcohol related test for people aspiring to occupy public offices to ascertain their health status.
He said this was important considering the importance of public offices to the growth and development of the country.
“Medical records of those aspiring to public offices must be made public to INEC before they are allowed to either contest or elected into public office,” he said.
Similarly Nurudeen Lemu, a delegate representing Religious Leaders, said that doctors should be deployed or seconded to orphanages.
He said they would be able to ease problems encountered by orphans when seeking health care.
The religious leader called for mass awareness on the dangers of consuming sugar, particularly in the rural areas.
He said it was imperative to carry out extensive sensitisation because; many persons had suffered from ailments like diabetes as a result of sugar consumption. (NAN)
