The House of Representatives has unveiled plans to investigate the prevalence, regulation and impact of drugs, tobacco, alcohol, illicit trafficking and related abuses on the Nigerian economy.
According to a statement issued by the Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, Hon. Oluwatimehin Adelegbe, the Committee was charged with the urgent task of examining the root causes, identifying institutional weaknesses, regulatory and enforcement gaps and developing practical solutions to combat this menace by strengthening national drug control mechanisms, promote public health and protect citizens from substance-related harms.
In view of the mandate and the urgency attached to it, the Ad-hoc Committee has resolved to interface with relevant stakeholders and other Nigerians with a view to identifying the causes and proffer solution. He therefore ask Nigerians to take advantage of the setting up of the committee to submit detailed memoranda addressing concerns,
recommendations and proposed interventions on the subject matter which will form the consultative process and guide legislative interventions.
Some of the ‘critical’ stakeholders invited by the Ad-hoc Committee are: National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Federal Ministry of Health, Federal Ministry of Justice, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON).
Others include: Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of MAN (PMG-MAN), Major Pharmaceutical companies (E.g Emzor, Fidson, May and Baker, Juhel, Dana), Nigerian Breweries Plc, Guinness Nigeria Plc, International Distillers Ltd and Tobacco industry representatives.
Also expected to appear before the Ad-hoc Committee are: Law Enforcement Agencies such as: National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Police Force), Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigerian Correctional Service, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Nigerian Medical Association (NMA),
Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APN), National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Civil Society Network on Substance Abuse (CSNSSA), Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria (HERFON)
National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Religious and community Leaders.
In the same vein, the Ad-hoc Committee invited Development Partners such as: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).