President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has said that the National Assembly is focused on strengthening regulatory mechanisms to ensure that our values as Nigerians do not suffer degeneration as a result of drug abuse.

Lawan made this known in a keynote address delivered to declare open a Public Hearing on the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency Act 2004.

The Senate President who was represented at the event by the Chairman, Committee on Health, Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe, said the issue of drug abuse in the country has become a hazard too difficult to ignore.

Also speaking at the hearing, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics, Hezekiah Dimka said the repeal and re-enactment of the NDLEA Act 2004 became imperative in view of the severe threat posed by drug abuse and trafficking on security in the country.

According to the lawmaker, drug abuse and trafficking continue to served as catalyst to violence, insurgency (Boko haram, Banditry and many communal conflicts in the country.

Dimka, therefore, noted that NDLEA Act 2004 was long overdue for amendment, stressing that, the Agency has with experience, learnt some lessons in the course of Operating and enforcing the Act.