Senator Ned Munir Nwoko has thrown his weight behind a proposed bill seeking to establish the National Institute on Drugs Awareness and Rehabilitation, stressing the urgent need for a robust, institutional response to Nigeria’s escalating substance abuse crisis.
Speaking at a public hearing organized by the Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics, Senator Nwoko emphasized that Nigeria’s current drug control efforts are heavily skewed toward enforcement, leaving critical gaps in prevention, rehabilitation, and reintegration.
“The gap in our drug response is glaring,” Nwoko asserted. “The NDLEA is doing commendable work in enforcement, but what happens after arrests? We lack the institutional capacity for sustained rehabilitation, public education, and community reintegration.”
The bill, championed by Senator Rufai Hanga, seeks to establish an agency focused exclusively on drug education, recovery, and post-treatment support.
While some stakeholders expressed concern over possible overlap with the NDLEA, Nwoko argued that the proposed institute would fill a long-standing void in Nigeria’s anti-drug ecosystem.
Drawing on his legislative experience, Nwoko referenced his own bill seeking to create a National Centre for Substance Abuse Management in Ndemili, Delta State.
He noted growing public demand for a more human-centered approach to drug policy, citing a recent encounter with a student-led NGO that presented him with a draft bill on the same issue.
“When youth groups are drafting legislation, it shows the depth of the crisis and the urgency to act,” Nwoko remarked. “This isn’t duplication—it’s reinforcement where it’s most needed.”
He commended Senator Hanga’s initiative and urged the National Assembly to act with speed and resolve.
“We must legislate with vision and compassion,” he said. “Drug addiction is a public health crisis, and rehabilitation deserves its own institutional backbone.”
Returning from a nationwide recess, Nwoko noted that feedback from constituents, particularly from rural and semi-urban communities, reinforces the need for community-based solutions rooted in education, empathy, and sustained support.
“We can’t afford to continue a one-track approach. It’s time for a national framework that embraces prevention, healing, and reintegration,” he concluded
