Tinubu Seeks Major Reforms in Drug Laws, Transport Safety Investigations

President Bola Tinubu has sent new bills to the Senate seeking to strengthen Nigeria’s drug enforcement laws and expand the powers of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).

The proposed National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Bill 2026 seeks to repeal existing laws governing the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Indian Hemp Act, replacing them with a consolidated legal framework for tackling drug-related offences.

The proposed legislation would strengthen enforcement against the cultivation, processing, sale, trafficking and use of illicit drugs, while empowering the agency to investigate individuals suspected of involvement in drug-related activities.

In a separate proposal, Tinubu transmitted the NSIB Amendment Bill 2026, which seeks to expand the bureau’s responsibilities beyond aviation accidents to include incidents involving rail, maritime and other forms of transportation.

The amendment also seeks to strengthen the bureau’s independence and institutional powers, while transferring supervisory oversight to the Presidency.

The bills were forwarded to the Senate in separate letters addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who referred them for further legislative consideration.

The proposed changes come amid renewed attention to transportation safety following the October 5 Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash near Igbokoda in Ondo State, which reportedly killed 32 people.

Both bills will now undergo legislative scrutiny before any proposed changes can become law.

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