| Abstract: |
Drug abuse and illicit trafficking are serious security and public health problems in Nigeria. The government, though determined to fight this menace, in the wake of these emerging complexities, enforcement of drug laws and security issues have become a bit more complicated. The paper identifies such complexities through the critical analysis of historical and current challenges that the NDLEA, Nigerian Police Force, and other agencies face in enforcing drug laws and ensuring security. This paper points out some of these emerging challenges: sophistication in routes of drug trafficking; corruption amongst law enforcement personnel; new drug types and trends; resource insufficiency; and policy implementation challenges. The study investigates best practices in those countries that have de¬criminalized drug use, heroin-assisted treatment, safe injection sites, methadone treatment, and cannabis policy practices that could be adopted by Nigeria. Institutional theory was used in this study as a theoretical framework describing how institutional factors such as policies, laws, and regulations influence the actions in terms of law enforcement in drug law enforcement and security. The paper concludes that such a situation indeed calls for the formulation of holistic drug policies and strategies by Nigeria, emphasizing prevention, supply reduction, and treatment measures that encourage multi-stakeholder collaboration in the quest for a drug-free Nigerian society. |
