The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has called for tougher action against drug traffickers and increased support for people battling drug addiction, saying Nigeria must tackle drug abuse to build a safer society.
Abbas made the call at the end of a three-day sensitisation programme on drug abuse and domestic violence held in Kaduna.
The programme, organised as part of the Speaker’s constituency outreach in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA), was aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of drug abuse and domestic violence.
According to a statement by Abbas’ Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Krishi, the Speaker said those who profit from the illegal drug trade must face the law, while people trapped in addiction should receive appropriate treatment and support.
“We must punish those who profit from drugs. We must also treat those who have become trapped by them. The dealer needs the law. The dependent person needs care,” Abbas said.
He urged parents, schools, community leaders and relevant professionals to play active roles in preventing drug abuse and domestic violence.
“Parents must watch for sudden changes in conduct. Schools must provide counselling and report warning signs. Pharmacists and medicine vendors must reject the unlawful sale of controlled substances,” he said.
The Speaker also urged traditional and religious leaders to speak openly against addiction and abuse, while calling on neighbours, market associations and transport unions to report suspicious activities involving drugs and violence.
He advised victims of domestic violence to seek safety, obtain medical attention, preserve evidence and report cases to the appropriate authorities.
“Communities must protect them, not punish them with blame or shame,” he added.
Abbas recalled that the previous edition of the programme, held in February 2025, led to a four-month campaign across the North-West, with engagements involving traditional rulers, religious leaders, teachers, parents, young people and community organisations.
He said the latest programme demonstrated that the commitment to take the campaign beyond conference halls had been fulfilled.
According to him, the NOA had taken the campaign into streets and communities across Kaduna, engaging market leaders, transport workers, youth groups and traditional institutions.
Abbas commended the Director-General of the NOA, Lanre Issa Onilu, and his team, as well as security and government agencies involved in the campaign, including the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigerian Correctional Service and National Youth Service Corps.
The Speaker further linked drug trafficking to Nigeria’s wider security challenges, noting that proceeds from the illegal drug trade could finance criminal activities.
“Drugs can impair judgement, increase aggression, and deepen poverty. But drugs never excuse violence. Every person remains responsible for his or her actions,” he said.
He stressed that domestic violence should not be justified as discipline or culture, describing it as abuse that harms victims, frightens children and weakens communities.
Abbas also warned that drug trafficking networks could facilitate the movement of other criminal commodities, including illegal weapons and illicit funds.
He said drug control was an important component of efforts to combat banditry and kidnapping in the North-West.
“Security forces may clear the camps. Communities must help cut the supply lines,” he said.
The Speaker summarised the approach needed to tackle the problem, saying: “Enforcement stops the shipment. Education reduces the demand. Treatment restores the individual. Community vigilance protects the neighbourhood.”
