The Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, has called for an urgent review of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act, citing the growing threat of substance abuse among youth and vulnerable groups across the country.
Speaking at a legislative roundtable on public health and drug control in Ikeja on Wednesday, Hon. Meranda stressed that current laws are outdated and insufficient to address the scale and complexity of Nigeria’s modern drug crisis.
“The NDLEA Act, as it stands, needs to be strengthened to reflect current realities — including new patterns of abuse, trafficking methods, and the need for more community-based interventions,” she said.
Meranda, who chairs several youth-focused initiatives in the state, emphasized the importance of aligning the legal framework with prevention, rehabilitation, and education strategies, rather than focusing solely on enforcement.
She also urged collaboration between federal and state legislators, civil society groups, and international partners to develop more effective policies that address both the supply and demand sides of narcotics.
According to recent data from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Nigeria remains one of the countries with the highest prevalence of drug use in West Africa, with over 14.4% of the population aged 15–64 estimated to have used drugs at least once in the past year.
Officials from the NDLEA, who were present at the forum, acknowledged the legislative gap and expressed support for proposed amendments that would enhance the agency’s capacity, expand rehabilitation programs, and incorporate digital surveillance in narcotics control.
Stakeholders at the event welcomed the Deputy Speaker’s advocacy, noting that legislative reform is key to winning the fight against drug abuse, which continues to fuel crime, unemployment, and mental health challenges across Nigeria.
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