Tinubu Transmits NDLEA, NSIB Bills To Senate For Consideration

President Bola Tinubu has transmitted the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Bill 2026 and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) Amendment Bill 2026 to the Senate for consideration.

The two bills were forwarded in separate letters addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and read during Tuesday’s plenary in Abuja, pursuant to Section 58(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

In his letter on the NDLEA Bill, Tinubu said the proposed legislation seeks to repeal the existing National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act and the Indian Hemp Act to establish a consolidated legal framework for combating drug-related offences.

According to the President, the bill is designed to strengthen enforcement against the cultivation, processing, sale, trafficking and use of illicit drugs, while empowering the agency to investigate persons suspected of involvement in drug-related activities.

The letter reads, “The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Bill 2026 seeks to repeal the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap. N30, and the Indian Hemp Act, Cap. I16, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, and to enact a consolidated framework to enforce the law against the cultivation, processing, sale, trafficking and use of hard drugs.”

Tinubu urged the Senate to give the proposed legislation expeditious consideration.

“While looking forward to the usual expeditious consideration of this submission, please accept, Distinguished Senate President and Distinguished Senators, the assurances of my highest consideration,” the letter stated.

Following its presentation, the NDLEA Bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Rules and Business for further legislative action.

In a separate letter, the President transmitted the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau Amendment Bill 2026, seeking changes to the bureau’s existing legal framework.

The proposed legislation seeks to amend the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (Establishment) Act No. 35 of 2022 to reposition the bureau as an independent, multimodal transport safety investigation authority.

Under the proposed changes, the bureau’s mandate would extend beyond aviation accidents and incidents to include occurrences involving rail, maritime and other modes of transportation.

The bill also seeks to transfer supervisory oversight of the bureau to the Presidency and strengthen its institutional, operational and administrative powers.

Tinubu forwarded the proposed amendment to the Senate pursuant to Section 58(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and requested its expeditious consideration.

The NSIB Amendment Bill was also referred to the Senate Committee on Rules and Business for further legislative action.

The proposed legislation would broaden the bureau’s investigative responsibilities beyond aviation, while the NDLEA Bill seeks to consolidate the legal framework governing the enforcement of drug-related offences.

Both bills will undergo further legislative consideration as the Senate examines the proposed changes to the country’s drug enforcement and transport safety investigation frameworks.