Reps transfer to test indiscriminate sale of gear

The House of Representatives on Wednesday drew the attention of the Federal Government to the need to check the indiscriminate sale of drugs in the country.

This is just as it urged the Federal Ministry of Health to come up with a prescription policy to address incessant cases of drug abuse, particularly by young Nigerians.

The resolution of the House followed the adoption of a motion, titled, “Need to curb the indiscriminate sale of drugs and lack of adherence to prescription policy in Nigeria,” moved by a member representing Gamawa Federal Constituency, Bauchi State, Adamu Gamawa on the floor of the Green Chamber of the National Assembly during the plenary session on Wednesday.

In its editorial of February 27, 2024, The According painted a frightening pucture of the menace, saying, “An update by the NDLEA revealed that 14.3m Nigerians have become drug addicts.”

Leading the debate, Gamawa argued that the lack of a prescription policy on drugs and indiscriminate drug sales by pharmacists, patent medicine dealers, and street vendors, staffed by unqualified personnel ultimately, portends danger for the nation and her people.

He quoted the National Bureau of Statistics as saying that there is a frightening surge in the issue of drug abuse and misuse in Nigeria “With drug use prevalence statistics at 14,4 per cent of productive age in Nigeria (15-65 years of age), which is almost three times the global drug use Prevalence which stands at 5.5 per cent.

He said, “The House is concerned that a large percentage of drug abuse in Nigeria are prescription drugs obtained without proper prescription and most of the drugs sold by illiterate and semi-literate drug hawkers are counterfeit, substandard or expired, and therefore do not meet the quality, safety and efficacy requirement of regulated medicines.

“The House is aware that various empirical studies show that drug abuse is a significant facilitator of extreme terrorism, violent crimes, and high school dropout and this negatively affect community health, security, and stability, according to consumer studies.”

The lawmaker noted that if urgent actions are not taken to declare a state of emergency and allocate resources to the identification of drug abuse response and treatment, “A national catastrophe of unimaginable dimension is in the offing.”

Following the adoption of the motion, the House urged the Federal Ministry of Health to develop a prescription policy that must be enforced just as it called on the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria to as a matter of urgency “Close all illegal outlets of pharmaceutical products including open drug markets and ensure that only prescribed drugs are administered to patients by qualified health practitioners and sanction erring pharmaceutical outlets.”

It further asked the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control to “Collaborate with the Standards Organization, Ministry of Information and National Orientation to continuously sensitise public awareness about drug abuse.

Consequently, the House mandated its Committees on Narcotics, Drugs, Healthcare Services, NAFDAC and legislative compliance to ensure compliance.