Nigerian President Refuses to Sign Anti-Drug Agency Bill

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has declined to sign the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Bill 2025 into law.

The President’s decision, which effectively rejects the bill passed by both chambers of the National Assembly, was communicated in a letter read in the Senate on Thursday.

Citing a section of the Nigerian constitution, President Tinubu explained that the proposed law sought to grant the NDLEA the authority to retain a portion of the proceeds seized from drug-related crimes. He argued that this provision was in conflict with existing financial regulations in the country.

The President noted that under the current system, “All proceeds of crime are paid into the government’s Confiscated and Forfeited Properties Account. Disbursements to any recovery agency, including the NDLEA, can only be made by presidential approval, subject to the consent of the Federal Executive Council and the National Assembly.”

President Tinubu maintained that there was no compelling reason to change a process designed to ensure accountability through executive and legislative oversight. Sources