President Bola Tinubu has transmitted a proposed bill to the Senate seeking the repeal of the Indian Hemp Act and the existing National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s drug control framework.

The proposed NDLEA Bill 2026 seeks to establish a consolidated legal framework for tackling drug-related offences, including the cultivation, processing, sale, trafficking and use of illicit substances.

The bill forms part of legislative proposals submitted by the President to reform drug enforcement and improve the legal framework governing the operations of the NDLEA.

Under the proposal, the existing laws would be replaced by a more comprehensive framework intended to address evolving challenges in drug control and enforcement.

The move is expected to provide a clearer legal foundation for the agency’s operations and strengthen its capacity to combat illicit drug activities across the country.

The proposal does not, in itself, legalise Indian hemp, also known as cannabis. Its provisions remain subject to legislative consideration and approval by the National Assembly.

The bill has been transmitted to the Senate for consideration and referred to the Senate Committee on Rules and Business as part of the legislative process.

If passed by the National Assembly and signed into law, the proposed legislation would replace the existing legal provisions with a consolidated framework for regulating and enforcing Nigeria’s drug laws.