Importance of Drug Laws in Nigeria

Drug laws are essential to counteract the negative effects of abuse of psychoactive substances. Drug abuse negatively impacts the health, safety, and productivity of its users. To mitigate against these negative effects of drug use, drug laws are established. In Nigeria, the NDLEA and NAFDAC Acts are drug laws directed toward combating the ills of drug abuse and illicit drug trade in the country. In this article, the importance of drug laws in Nigeria will be addressed. Read on to find out how these drug laws are beneficial.

The importance of drug laws in Nigeria is addressed below:

The NDLEA Act empowers drug enforcement agencies and personnel to take measures that are directed at eliminating and preventing the root causes of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in Nigeria.
The strengthening and enhancing of effective legal means for international cooperation in criminal matters for stifling the international activities of illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances is a goal the NDLEA Act strives for.
The NDLEA Act establishes regulations to identify, trace, freeze, confiscate or seize proceeds from drug-related offenses or property whose value corresponds to such proceeds.
The NDLEA Act is intended for the eradication of illicit cultivation of narcotic plants and to eliminate the illicit market for narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances aimed at reducing human suffering and eliminating human suffering and removing the financial incentives for illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
The NDLEA Act enforces regulations that stifle the use of ordinary means of transport for illicit traffic in narcotic drugs.
Drug laws enforce measures that include coordinated preventive and repressive action, among others, in the investigation and control of drug use in Nigeria.
The NDLEA Act aids the facilitation of timely exchange of scientific and technical information between drug enforcement personnel directed towards the eradication of illicit use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
In Nigeria, drug laws establish measures to destroy or dispose of the narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances when they are seized, confiscated, or forfeited.
The provisions of the NDLEA Act facilitate the availability of persons (including those in custody) who consent to assist in investigations or partake in proceedings relating to narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
Drug laws enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement to suppress illicit traffic in narcotic and psychotropic substances in Nigeria.
The NDLEA Act empowers drug enforcement personnel to establish, maintain and secure communication to encourage the timely exchange of information concerning offices and improve international cooperation in the suppression of illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances by road, sea and air.
Drug laws in Nigeria empower drug enforcement agencies to take charge, supervise, control, and coordinate all responsibilities, functions and activities relating to the arrest, investigation and prosecution of all offenses which relate to illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
The NDLEA Agency is empowered by the NDLEA Act to have strengthened cooperation with the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, the police force, customs custom agencies, immigration agencies, welfare officials, health officials and other law enforcement agencies in the eradication of illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in Nigeria.
The NAFDAC Act empowers the NAFDAC agency to regulate and control the importation, exportation, manufacture, advertisement, distribution, sale and use of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water and chemicals in Nigeria.
Drug laws such as the NAFDAC Act strive to ensure that food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water and chemicals comply with standard specifications approved by NAFDAC Council for effective quality control. The production process in factories as well as the raw materials used in the production are supervised by NAFDAC to ensure that they meet standard specifications approved by the NAFDAC Council.
The NAFDAC Act empowers NAFDAC Agency to vet the production premises and raw materials for food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water and chemicals to ensure the final products consumed by the citizens are safe and meet the desired standard specifications. Thus, relevant quality assurance systems are established by NAFDAC to ensure strict adherence to set standards which invariably translates to protecting the consumer of such regulated products.
The NAFDAC Agency is charged based on the provisions of the NAFDAC Act to embark on inspection of imported drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, and more, to ensure that these regulated products are safe to be used by consumers in Nigeria. Any product that falls short of the desired standard is disposed of.
The various stakeholders involved in the production, importation, exploitation, sale and distribution of food, drug, cosmetics, bottled water, chemicals and medical devices in Nigeria are guided by the compiled standard specifications and guidelines of NAFDAC for effective quality control.
The NAFDAC Act ensures that relevant laboratories are established in strategic areas across the country to provide the Agency with the appropriate input to make informed decisions about ensuring the safety and quality of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals and bottled water in Nigeria.
The NAFDAC Act empowers the Agency to control the exportation and issuance of quality certification of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water and chemicals that are intended for export.
A vital function of the NAFDAC Act in Nigeria is that it empowers the NAFDAC Agency to determine the suitability (or otherwise) of drugs, food, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals, and other regulated products for human use. So, consumers are protected against using unsafe and harmful products as the regulated products that do not meet the standard specifications approved by the NAFDAC Council will not have the NAFDAC seal.
The NAFDAC Agency is backed by the NAFDAC Act to undertake and coordinate research in the areas of storage, adulteration, distribution and rational use of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, and chemicals, among others. Research in these areas provide
Products that are to be consumed by Nigerians such as food, drugs, cosmetics, and medical devices, among others, first undergo appropriate analysis by authorized personnel of NAFDAC to pronounce the quality and safety of the aforementioned regulated products.