The Bensther Foundation, a non-governmental organization, has called for narcotics to be removed from the exclusive list.
The foundation’s Executive Director, Nonso Maduka, made this appeal during a media briefing titled ‘Nigeria Drug Law: Way Forward’, held in Enugu.
The event was organized in partnership with the National Human Rights Commission and Youthrise Nigeria. During the briefing, the organization also expressed opposition to the death penalty for drug addicts.
In his speech, Maduka emphasized the need to remove substance use, specifically narcotics, from the exclusive list. This would allow states to implement strategies they consider most effective in combating drug abuse and related issues.
He insisted that states “under the exclusive list, cannot cannot do anything except they go to Abuja”, advocating that the issue of substance use should run concurrently like other health issues.
“We need to remove the issue of substance use, narcotics, from the exclusive list, let it run concurrently just like other health issues because the drugs laws are under the exclusive list, states cannot do anything and if they have to do anything, they have to go to Abuja,” he said.
Maduka emphasized the need to amend certain drug laws to ensure that the NDLEA is not acting as both prosecutor and judge.
He also suggested that the NDLEA should concentrate on reducing the supply of drugs, as the agency currently lacks the staffing needed to effectively address drug demand reduction.
Maduka expressed his opposition to the death penalty for drug offenders, noting that the agency has successfully assisted many drug addicts in Enugu.
(Daily Post)
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