Abuja: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has announced its commitment to seeking more humane ways to treat drug victims, emphasizing the importance of counseling and medicinal support. Dr. Tony Ojukwu (SAN), Executive Secretary of the NHRC, made this statement during an event organized to commemorate the 2025 World Drug Day.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the event was hosted in collaboration with the United Nations (UN) human rights resident commissioners in Nigeria. Dr. Ojukwu, who participated in the event via Zoom, highlighted the severe impact of drug addiction on individuals, both young and old. He underscored the pervasive stigma and discrimination that drug victims face, which often leads to social exclusion and limited access to essential health and harm reduction services.
Dr. Ojukwu pointed out that punitive measures have frequently led to arbitrary arrests, ill-treatment, and even torture within detention facilities. He emphasized that the battle against drug addiction is being lost not in terms of statistics but in terms of human lives and dignity. Citing data and research, he argued that punitive approaches have failed to work effectively. Despite Nigeria’s higher-than-average global drug use prevalence, access to treatment and harm reduction services remains among the lowest in Africa, Ojukwu noted.
The NHRC Executive Secretary also highlighted that most drug-related incarcerations in Nigeria involve non-violent and low-level offenses. This underscores the need for reform in handling drug-related cases, emphasizing a shift from punitive to rehabilitative approaches.
Kufuor, a representative from the UN, stated that the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) was a key recommendation in preventing torture in the country. She acknowledged the government’s efforts to address these issues and expressed hope that NPM would effectively address them. Kufuor mentioned ongoing discussions with stakeholders regarding non-custodial services and earlier releases for those on probation, aiming to ensure victims receive justice and are monitored to prevent repeat offenses.
She urged the government and authorities to adequately resource and empower NPM to effectively carry out its mandate. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, also known as ‘World Drug Day,’ is observed annually on June 26 to promote action and cooperation toward a drug-free world.