Pubdate: Mon, 13 Dec 2004
Source: This Day (Nigeria)
Copyright: 2004 This Day.
Contact:  http://www.thisdayonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2870
Author: Kingsley Nwezeh

NIGERIA'S DRUG LAWS WEAK - AKUNYILI

Abuja

Director General of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration
and Control (NAFDAC) has lamented what she described as weak content
of the laws on fake and illicit drugs. She regretted that the laws in
this area lack punitive measures to deter offenders.

Speaking to newsmen in Abuja, Mrs. Akunyili regretted that the weak
penalty meted out to drug offenders was hampering the efforts aimed at
containing the hydra-headed problem.

"Our drug laws are very weak. For us in NAFDAC, we have been simply
applying our decretive guidelines. We saw the weakness of the law as
an emergency. We hired lawyers who drafted a bill for us, which we
submitted to the National Assembly", she said, noting that the
National Assembly was still working on the bill.

She spoke further "illicit drug trafficking is lucrative because the
laws are weak. We need an international body that will control the
sale and use of drugs. Fake and counterfeit drugs require more
international attention".

Akunyili made particular reference to the penalty of N10, 000 fine or
three months imprisonment for drug peddling/counterfeit offences as
insufficient punishment for drug offenders.

She also painted a gloomy picture of pending cases in courts involving
NAFDAC, which ranged from such disruptions as transfer of cases,
disappearance of sureties or investigating police officers.

"Cases can linger in this country for 10 years. When you are in court
for 10 years is it still useful? Evidences are destroyed, in the case
of drugs, they will no longer be in the same form", she said.
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