The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, commenced an investigation into Nigeria’s escalating drug abuse crisis, aimed at exposing systemic failures, strengthening accountability, and curbing a menace that threatens the country now and in the future.
Speaking at the opening of the investigative hearing at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, the Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee on Drugs, Trafficking, Alcohol and Tobacco, Hon. Oluwatimehin Adelegbe, described substance abuse as a national emergency capable of eroding the nation if left unchecked.
The lawmaker explained that his committee was inaugurated to uncover the truth, identify institutional weaknesses, and recommend strong corrective measures that would reverse the disturbing rise in drug abuse, trafficking, and unregulated consumption of harmful substances in Nigeria.
According to him, illicit drug trafficking, unregulated pharmaceutical distribution, predatory alcohol marketing, and aggressive tobacco promotion have converged into a dangerous crisis that is stealing the health of Nigeria’s youth, weakening the labour force, destabilising communities, and undermining collective national progress.
He lamented that cannabis is now openly smoked on the streets like cigarettes, methamphetamine use is spreading at an alarming rate, while codeine-based cough syrups are sold almost like soft drinks, particularly among young people.
He further alleged that tramadol 200mg is trafficked with the same level of coordination as hard narcotics, while cheap and hazardous alcoholic mixtures are destroying the lives of young men and women in motor parks, campuses, and marketplaces nationwide.
The chairman also accused tobacco companies of exploiting regulatory loopholes to target minors through flavoured products, informal retail channels, and deceptive marketing practices, while substandard pharmaceuticals, fake spirits, and unregistered products flood Nigerian markets due to weak enforcement at ports, airports, and land borders.
Stressing that the probe was not a witch-hunt or an anti-business move, Adelegbe said no business model would be allowed to thrive at the expense of Nigerian lives, adding that lawmakers owe the public firm action, solutions, and accountability rather than excuses.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) described the scale of drug use in Nigeria as alarming, revealing that 14.4 per cent of Nigerians aged 15 to 64 use drugs, with cannabis and pharmaceutical opioids such as tramadol and codeine being the most abused substances.
UNODC also warned that drug use in Africa could rise by 40% by 2030, potentially pushing Nigeria’s drug-using population beyond 20 million, while recommending a humane, data-driven approach that balances law enforcement with prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and alternatives to incarceration for first-time offenders.
In its submission, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) pledged full cooperation with the House committee, stressing the need for stronger legislation, improved regulation, enhanced treatment systems, and increased operational resources to effectively combat drug trafficking and protect public health across Nigeria.