RismadarVoice Reporters
October 14, 2026
President Bola Tinubu has transmitted two bills to the Senate seeking to overhaul Nigeria’s drug enforcement legislation and strengthen the investigative powers of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).
The proposed National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Bill 2026 and Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau Amendment Bill 2026 were presented in separate presidential communications read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday.
The President requested legislative consideration of both proposals in accordance with Section 58(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
Under the proposed NDLEA legislation, the Federal Government seeks to repeal the existing National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act and the Indian Hemp Act, replacing them with a consolidated framework for drug law enforcement.
The bill is intended to strengthen the agency’s legal authority to investigate and combat offences involving the cultivation, production, distribution, trafficking and unlawful use of controlled substances.
It also proposes additional investigative powers to support enforcement against individuals and organisations suspected of drug-related offences.
Tinubu requested expedited consideration of the legislation, after which Akpabio referred the proposal to the Senate Committee on Rules and Business for further legislative action.
NSIB AMENDMENT TARGETS TRANSPORT SAFETY INVESTIGATIONS
The second proposal seeks to amend the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (Establishment) Act No. 35 of 2022 to strengthen the bureau’s institutional independence and operational effectiveness.
The proposed changes would reinforce the NSIB’s authority to investigate transport accidents and serious incidents involving aviation, rail, maritime and other transportation systems.
The bill also seeks to transfer supervisory oversight of the bureau to the Presidency while expanding its administrative and operational responsibilities.
The proposal comes amid concerns over aviation safety following reports of a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft crash near Igbokoda, Ondo State, on October 5, in which 25 people were reportedly killed.
The Senate has called for an investigation into the reported incident and a review of military aircraft maintenance, serviceability and related funding.
Tinubu similarly requested prompt legislative consideration of the NSIB amendment, which Akpabio referred to the Senate Committee on Rules and Business.
Both bills remain proposals and will require further legislative consideration and approval before becoming law.
The NDLEA bill focuses on consolidating drug enforcement legislation, while the NSIB amendment seeks to strengthen the legal framework for independent transport safety investigations in Nigeria.
