Tinubu Asks Senate to Repeal Indian Hemp Act, Existing NDLEA Law

President Bola Tinubu has asked the Nigerian Senate to repeal the Indian Hemp Act and the existing National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act as part of a proposed overhaul of the country’s drug-control laws.

The request was conveyed to the Senate in a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary on Tuesday, October 13. The proposed National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Bill 2026 seeks to bring the two laws under a single legal framework for tackling drug-related offences.

In the letter, Tinubu said the proposed legislation would strengthen enforcement against the cultivation, processing, sale, trafficking and use of illicit drugs. It would also empower the agency to investigate people suspected of involvement in drug-related activities.

The President urged lawmakers to consider the bill expeditiously. Following its presentation, the proposal was referred to the Senate Committee on Rules and Business for further legislative action. The request is not yet law; it must go through the legislative process before any new framework can take effect.

The proposed repeal concerns two existing laws: the NDLEA Act, which provides the agency’s legal foundation, and the Indian Hemp Act, which forms part of Nigeria’s legislation governing cannabis. The NDLEA was established in 1989 to combat illicit drug production and trafficking, and its responsibilities also include prevention, counselling and rehabilitation programmes.

The reform comes as Nigeria continues to face challenges involving drug trafficking, illicit cultivation and the spread of different substances. The agency has pursued enforcement operations alongside public awareness and rehabilitation initiatives, while officials have also called for broader cooperation to address the social and security consequences of drug abuse.

However, the details of the proposed bill will matter as much as its consolidation of existing laws. Its impact will depend on the precise powers granted to investigators, how those powers are exercised, and whether enforcement is matched by effective prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. Drug-policy advocates have previously highlighted gaps in access to harm-reduction services and the need for approaches that protect the health and rights of people who use drugs.

The Senate’s consideration of the bill will therefore be an important test of how Nigeria intends to shape its next phase of drug control. Replacing older legislation could provide an opportunity to clarify enforcement powers and address emerging threats, but the ultimate measure of success will be whether the new framework helps disrupt trafficking networks, reduces drug-related harm and strengthens accountability without overlooking public health and individual rights.