As the menace of drug trafficking in the country becomes worrisome, The National Drug and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has sought the establishment of drug laboratories across the 36 states of the federation.
This was raised at the public hearing of the Senate Committee on Drug and Narcotic on Thursday the 25th of March, 2021 by Chairman/CEO of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, represented by the Director-General of the Agency.
The Senate Committee held the public hearing on Drugs and Narcotics to gather opinions from stakeholders as it prepares to amend the National Drug Law Enforcement Act of 2004 (Amendment) 2021.
Chairman of the Committee, Senator Ezekiel Ayuba had stated that the outcome of the hearing would be treated as a matter of importance in amending the drug law so as to deal with drug abuse in the country.
Ayuba said Section 4 of the principal act which deals with powers of the agency provides opportunities for amendment, hence, it wants amendment for the establishment of drug laboratories across the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
“Section 4 of the Principal Act dealing with ‘Special Powers of the Agency’ is proposed to be amended by inserting a new subsection.
It mandates the Agency to establish the scientific laboratories in the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.”
He added that the establishment of laboratories across all 36 states will create the capacity for the NDLEA to speed up investigations and prosecute drug-related cases.
He, therefore, urged the National Assembly to consider a budgetary provision that will enable the agency to purchase the necessary equipment.
