President Bola Tinubu has forwarded two proposed laws to the Senate seeking major changes to Nigeria’s drug enforcement system and an expansion of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau’s investigative responsibilities.
The bills, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Bill 2026 and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau Amendment Bill 2026, were submitted in separate letters to Senate President Godswill Akpabio for legislative consideration.
Both proposals were transmitted under Section 58(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which outlines the process for presenting legislation to the President for assent after passage by the National Assembly.
In the proposed NDLEA legislation, Tinubu seeks to repeal the existing National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act and the Indian Hemp Act, replacing them with a unified legal framework for tackling drug-related offences.
The proposed law is intended to strengthen enforcement against the cultivation, processing, distribution, trafficking and use of illicit drugs. It would also empower the agency to investigate individuals suspected of involvement in drug-related activities.
The President explained the objectives of the bill in his letter to the Senate.
“The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Bill 2026 seeks to repeal the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap. N30, and the Indian Hemp Act, Cap. I16, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, and to enact a consolidated framework to enforce the law against the cultivation, processing, sale, trafficking and use of hard drugs.”
Tinubu called on lawmakers to consider the proposed legislation without delay.
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“While looking forward to the usual expeditious consideration of this submission, please accept, Distinguished Senate President and Distinguished Senators, the assurances of my highest consideration,” the letter stated.
Following its presentation, Akpabio referred the NDLEA Bill to the Senate Committee on Rules and Business for further action.
The second proposal seeks to amend the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (Establishment) Act No. 35 of 2022, with the aim of strengthening the bureau’s independence and extending its investigative authority across different transportation systems.
Under the proposed amendment, the NSIB would investigate accidents and incidents beyond aviation, including those involving rail, maritime and other modes of transportation.
The bill also proposes moving supervisory responsibility for the bureau to the Presidency while enhancing its institutional, administrative and operational powers.
In his letter accompanying the amendment bill, Tinubu asked the Senate to consider the proposed changes in line with Section 58(2) of the Constitution and expedite legislative action.
Akpabio subsequently referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Rules and Business for further consideration.
The proposed changes come amid heightened scrutiny of aviation safety following the October 5 crash of a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft near Igbokoda, Ondo State, which reportedly claimed 32 lives.
The Senate has called for a comprehensive investigation into the incident, alongside an assessment of military aircraft serviceability and the funding available for maintenance.
Both bills will now undergo further legislative scrutiny. While the NDLEA proposal seeks to consolidate the legal framework for combating drug offences, the NSIB amendment aims to establish a broader system for independent safety investigations across Nigeria’s transport sector.