A bill for an Act to establish National institute for Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation, to coordinate and promote drug awareness, prevent substance abuse and facilitate the rehabilitation of drug users and for related matters, 2024(SB. 449), sponsored by the Senator representing Kano Central, Senator
Sani Rufa’i has scaled second reading on the floor of the Senate.
Senator Rufai in his lead debate this Monday on the general principles of the Bill, noted that the Bill will enhance existing programme on drug awareness and provide crucial support to combat the escalating drug crisis in the Country, adding that it will also facilitate rehabilitation for drug users in the country.
In his contribution Senator Suleiman Abdulrahmam-Kawu from Kano South Senatorial district, blamed politicians for the widespread abuse of hard drugs in the country accusing them of not only procuring drugs for the youths but also encouraging them to consume the hard substances so that they could carry out illegal activities on their behalf in the name of politics.
According to the lawmaker, politicians stock drugs in their homes and also fund the channels for regular supplies, especially during electioneering.
Though it was the view of the majority of the Senators that the Bill duplicated the job of the NDLEA, the Presiding Officer and the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin ruled that it be read for the second time and referred it to the Committee on Narcotics to report back to the Senate in four weeks .
The Bill for an Act to Establish Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri, to provide for the Administration and Management of the University and for other related matters, 2024, SB.146 sponsored by Senator Onyewuchi Ezenwa was also read a second time to provide a legal backing for the School which was already upgrade and Established .
