The Senate
and House of Representatives Committees on Narcotics and Drugs have pledged to
raise the profile of the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agencies
(NDLEA) in its
effort to combat drug related offences.
The
resolution is to strengthen a balanced approach to drug responses in the
country in line with priority areas set out in the National Drug Control
Masterplan (NDCMP) made to last between 2015 and 2019 in Nigeria.
The
chairman, Senate committee on Drugs and Narcotic, Senator Joshua Lidani,
disclosed this at a media briefing on ‘Balanced, Evidence based and Human
Rights based Drug Control’ seminar held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital last
Thursday.
The event
was organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and
funded by the European Union (EU) to support Nigeria’s effort to tackle drug
related challenges using a multi-facet approach.
The key
areas the profile would cover include, drug law enforcement, drug demand
reduction and availability and control of Narcotic and psychotropic substances.
According to Lidani, the committees would strengthen the NDLEA as a
professional institution through capacity building by ensuring that it receives
its funds as a first line charge. He added that the Agency would be encouraged
to increase their advocacy through print media, social media, electronic and a
functional website.
According to Guardian, He said:
“Among others the committee would create awareness and education on drug issues
to communities, families, professionals, government and IDPs; ensure
professional training that is continuous at treatment centres for drug
counselors, social workers, doctors, nurses and other professional staff.”He
added that regular and adequate supply of appropriate and recommended opioid
medicines would be available in the country.
“The
committees will continue to engage with various ministries and technical
agencies of the government, discuss with Senate and House of Representatives
Committees on Health, the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, the
European Union as well as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to take
forward Nigeria’s response on drug control,” Ligali, who was joined in the
briefing by his House of Representative counterpart, Mrs. Eucharia Azodo and a
representative of the federal ministry of budget and national planning said.
The event
was a fallout of a three day briefing on the UN Drug Conventions, the UN
General Assembly Special Session on Drugs (UNGASS) in 2016 about the
international evidence based best practice on a balanced approach to drug
control organized for members of the senate and house of representative
committee on Narcotics and Drugs, ministry of budget and national planning, EU,
UNODC as well as Nigerian and international experts on drug issues.
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