| dc.description.abstract | Over the past five years, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recorded unprecedented operational successes in Nigeria’s fight against drug trafficking and abuse. Under its current leadership, the agency has carried out 77,792 arrests, including 128 identified drug barons, and seized more than 14.8 million kilograms of illicit drugs across the country. These achievements signal robust enforcement capacity, strengthened intelligence-led operations, and Nigeria’s renewed posture against domestic and transnational drug networks. The NDLEA has also expanded demand-reduction efforts through rehabilitation, counselling, and nationwide sensitisation programmes. Despite these gains, a significant disconnect persists between enforcement outcomes and judicial results. As of early 2026, only 14,225 convictions have been secured from nearly 78,000 arrests made over the same period, representing approximately 18% conversion of arrests into convictions. This disparity highlights systemic weaknesses within the prosecution and adjudication pipeline, including challenges in evidence management, prosecutorial coordination, trial delays, judicial capacity constraints, and case management inefficiencies. The gap between interdiction and conviction risks undermining the deterrent value of NDLEA’s enforcement successes and could weaken the overall impact of Nigeria’s anti-drug strategy. Unchecked, low conviction rates also risk eroding public confidence in the justice system and may allow offenders to exploit procedural loopholes or re-enter criminal networks. However, the National Assembly has a constitutional responsibility to ensure effective law enforcement, uphold the rule of law, and protect fundamental rights. The observed imbalance between arrests and convictions in drug-related offences elevates this issue beyond operational enforcement and firmly situates it within the legislature’s oversight and reform mandate. To take a critical look into this disparity, the National Assembly is kindly urged to:
1. Convene a joint oversight hearing through the Committees on Drugs and Narcotics and Judiciary to examine prosecution bottlenecks, trial delays, and coordination gaps among NDLEA, the Federal Ministry of Justice, the judiciary, and correctional authorities.
2. Mandate quarterly performance reporting from NDLEA and the Federal Ministry of Justice on arrests, prosecutions filed, convictions secured, cases dismissed, and average trial duration to support evidence-based legislative oversight.
3. Review and amend relevant statutes, including the NDLEA Act and applicable criminal procedure laws, to strengthen prosecutorial powers, clarify evidence standards, introduce timelines for drug-related trials, and support specialised drug prosecution or court divisions.
4. Legislate targeted funding and capacity building for judges, prosecutors, forensic services, and digital case management systems to improve prosecution efficiency and conviction outcomes. While NDLEA’s enforcement achievements demonstrate strong institutional resolve, sustainable success in Nigeria’s war against drugs depends on converting arrests and seizures into timely, credible, and lawful convictions. Focused legislative oversight and reform will close systemic gaps, reinforce deterrence, protect human rights, and ensure that enforcement victories translate into lasting justice outcomes. | en_US |
