The Senate passed the bill after a debate on the general principles of a bill for an act to establish a National for Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation, to coordinate and promote drug awareness, prevent substance abuse and facilitate the rehabilitation of drug users.
A number of senators backed the bill sponsored by Senator Rufai Hanga from Kano Central, arguing that the establishment of the Institute is in the first instance informed by the high record of substance abuse in Nigeria.
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Although Senators like Adams Oshiomole and Gbenga Daniel argued that creating another institution for the purpose of preventing drug abuse and facilitating rehabilitation of drug users etc. would amount to overlapping duplicity of functions with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), others hinge their arguments of the rapid improvement and awareness the agency would bring to the protracted challenge.
Senator Kawu, however, indicated that some senators may be culpable of funding and supporting drug abusers in their constituency, asserting that every politician must be subjected to drug tests before vying for office.
The arguments continued along parallel lines and eventually in spite of the many dissenting voices, the bill scaled second reading.
