By Fatima Saka
At a recent public hearing on a proposed bill to establish a National Institution for Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation, Mrs. Margaret Mkpanam of the African Mothers Initiative made a passionate appeal in support of the initiative, highlighting the devastating impact of drug abuse on Nigerian families, particularly mothers and youth.
Speaking from a human and maternal perspective, Mkpanam stressed that while the current economic realities under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu may cause some to question the timing of establishing a new agency, the urgency of Nigeria’s drug abuse crisis justifies immediate legislative action.
“This bill is very important at such a time as this. Our kids in schools are suffering, the youths are going through a lot, and the mothers are in pain,” she said. “The establishment of a national institution for drug awareness and rehabilitation is not only timely—it is necessary.”
Mkpanam acknowledged the opposition of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to the bill, but likened the resistance to past institutional rivalries. “When we had the civil defence trying to come in, the police resisted. When Peace Corps came in, civil defence resisted. This is a recurring human factor,” she noted.
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She dismissed claims of duplication of duties, arguing instead that a new agency would complement and strengthen the efforts of the NDLEA. “If we say it’s a duplication of duties, then we are admitting that there has been a significant lapse. But I choose to see it as a support mechanism that can make NDLEA more effective.”
The African Mothers Initiative called on lawmakers to prioritize human capital development and the well-being of citizens by supporting the bill, aligning it with the broader vision of national rebuilding and social welfare under the Tinubu administration.
