The Niger State House of Assembly has resolved to summon the head of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the state to address the alarming increase in the use of illicit drugs and other intoxicants.
This decision was made during a plenary session following a motion presented by Yahaya Abubakar Ahmadu, the member representing Katcha Constituency. Ahmadu highlighted that the rampant use of these substances, particularly among the youth, has led to significant unrest and societal disruption.
In response, the House has called for the NDLEA state chief to appear before the plenary to explain the surge in drug abuse. Ahmadu emphasized the need for youth engagement through skills acquisition programs and urged the executive arm to implement various youth empowerment and agricultural initiatives.
The Assembly also agreed to invite key stakeholders, including the Commissioner of Police, Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Commissioner of Justice, village heads, a representative of the Emir of Minna, the Department of Patent Medicine Store of the Ministry of Health, and the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria, for an executive meeting next week.
Speaker Rt. Hon Abdulmalik Sarkindaji expressed deep concern over the situation, noting that even minors as young as 13 years old are involved in drug abuse. He stated that if the NDLEA provides satisfactory explanations during the stakeholders' meeting, the agency's head may not need to appear before the plenary scheduled for Tuesday next week.