Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, on Tuesday vowed that the National Assembly would not allow any company—local or multinational—to prioritise profit over human lives by supplying Nigerians with fake, adulterated, or substandard drugs.
Speaking at a public hearing on drug trafficking, substance abuse, and the regulation of alcohol, tobacco, and pharmaceutical industries, Speaker Tajudeen stressed that corporate profits must never override national well-being.
Represented by Adegboye Kalejaiye Paul, Chairman of the House Committee on France/Nigeria Friendship Group, the Speaker emphasised the need for transparency and accountability from all stakeholders.
“This is not an exercise for evasive responses or selective disclosures. It is an evidence-based national accountability process. Any attempt to mislead the Committee, withhold information, manipulate data, or submit falsified documents will be treated as contempt of the National Assembly under Section 89 of the Constitution,” he warned.
Speaker Tajudeen assured Nigerians that the House would implement the outcomes of the investigation, including strengthening regulatory frameworks, imposing stricter penalties for violators, improving port efficiency, and reducing the circulation of harmful substances. He also pledged to enforce ethical advertising, expand public health and rehabilitation programmes, and collaborate fully with global partners such as WHO, UNODC, INL, USAID, and the European Union.
“Nigeria must never again become a dumping ground for toxic substances, criminal and fraudulent drugs, counterfeit medicines, unregulated alcohol, or predatory corporate practices,” he said, noting that the hearing is a critical step in addressing one of the nation’s most pressing emergencies.
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He described the crisis as nationwide, affecting families, communities, and public health. “Drug trafficking and substance abuse are destroying young lives and claiming innocent victims. Harmful and unregistered alcoholic beverages are flooding our markets. Unethical tobacco marketing targets unsuspecting youths, endangering Nigerians,” the Speaker said.
He added that these challenges threaten public health, national security, economic productivity, and the future of youth, highlighting rising addiction to codeine-based syrups, tramadol, synthetic narcotics, fake medicines, and toxic alcoholic mixtures.
Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee on Drugs Trafficking and Substance Abuse, Oluwatimehin Adelegbe, stressed that the committee’s mandate is to protect the public and recommend corrective measures under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“Substance abuse, illicit drug trafficking, unregulated pharmaceutical distribution, predatory alcohol marketing, and aggressive tobacco promotion have converged into a dangerous crisis. This is stealing the health of our youth, weakening our labour force, destabilising communities, and undermining our collective future,” Adelegbe said.
He warned that cannabis, methamphetamine, codeine-based syrups, and tramadol are widely abused, while cheap and hazardous alcoholic mixtures continue to harm young people. He also condemned tobacco companies for exploiting loopholes to target minors and highlighted systemic gaps at ports, airports, and borders that trafficking syndicates exploit.
Adelegbe urged lawmakers to act decisively, saying, “The nation is losing too many lives, too many futures, too many families to drug abuse. Nigerians expect answers, solutions, and firm action—not excuses.”
He clarified that the investigation is not anti-business, but an accountability exercise. “No business model can be allowed to thrive at the expense of Nigerian lives. No profit margin can justify the destruction of our youth. Every stakeholder is a partner in protecting Nigeria, and your cooperation is not only expected, but required,” he said.
The committee warned that it will not tolerate evasions or attempts to mislead the process and indicated plans to convene a national conference on the matter.
The investigation is expected to guide legislative and executive actions, including possible reforms to NAFDAC, NDLEA, Customs, and SON Acts; enactment of a National Alcohol Act; enforcement of smoke-free spaces; digital tracking of pharmaceutical products; implementation of drug prescription laws; establishment of harm reduction programmes; and strengthening of the national drug control framework.
The findings are intended to shape national policy and regulatory enforcement for years to come.
