The Centre for Ethical Rebirth Among Nigerian Youths (CERANY) has commended the Senate for the proposed bill to establish a National Institute for Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation, which passed a second reading on Tuesday.

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With over 23 years of active intervention in anti-drug abuse awareness campaigns, advocacy, and counselling, the group has consistently argued that the drug war can only be won when prevention is prioritised, and drug demand reduction receives as much attention as drug supply reduction.

In a statement in Abuja on Wednesday, the president of the group, Chuks Akamadu, said the move is one of the best actions taken by the Senate so far.

“The drug market exists and thrives simply because demand has been the constant (k) in the mix, which, in turn, sustains the supply chain. Therefore, with the right awareness campaigns, demand will be curtailed, with obvious adverse consequences on supply—in line with our legitimate quest for a drug-free society.

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“It is against this background that CERANY wishes to commend the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for realising the imperative of setting up an institute conceived to oversee this flank of the war on drugs and effectively complement the commendable efforts of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA),” CERANY said.

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This development means that the NDLEA would now be able to fully focus on its enforcement mandate, while the proposed institute takes charge of public enlightenment for drug abuse prevention and rehabilitation.

With this encouraging development, CERANY looks forward to a robust and more inclusive review of the National Drug Control Master Plan in 2025.

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