By Haruna Salami
A Bill for an Act to Establish National Institute on Drugs Awareness and Rehabilitation has received great support from stakeholders from security, health and drugs administration.
This followed a public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics on “A Bill for an Act to Establish National Institute on Drugs Awareness and Rehabilitation Bill 2024 (HB449)”.
Chairman of the committee Senator Ibrahim Dankwabo (Gombe North) said over 34 individuals and organisations presented memoranda and appeared before the committee.
Representative of the Nigerian Army (NA), Lt. Col. Majeri, a psychiatrist said the Army supports the establishment of another agency that will take care of research and rehabilitation of victims of drug abuse.
He suggested that the NA should be on the board of the institute when established because the insurgency war going in the country requires a focus on research, which the experience of the Army will be invaluable.
Speaking in a similar vein, representative of the Nigerian Navy said drug abuse by the youths is a major problem, adding that the security challenge in some parts of the country affects mental health.
“Nigerian Navy is in support of this bill any the military must be on the board when the bill is passed into law”.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
