Lawyers Alert Call for Drug Possession Thresholds in Nigeria

Lawyers Alert Calls for Drug Possession Thresholds to Strengthen HIV/AIDS and TB Response in Nigeria

Lawyers Alert has joined other stakeholders in advocating for the introduction of drug possession thresholds in Nigeria as part of broader efforts to strengthen the national response to HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB). The call was made during a three-day community engagement workshop organised by the National Human Rights Commission in Benin City, Edo State, which brought together key actors from government, civil society, and community-based organisations.

Participants at the workshop highlighted the negative impact of criminalising even small quantities of drugs, noting that such approaches often push individuals who use drugs further underground due to fear of arrest, stigma, and discrimination. This hidden population, they observed, becomes harder to reach with essential health services, including HIV prevention, TB screening and treatment, harm reduction services, and psychosocial support, thereby increasing public health risks and worsening disease transmission.

Stakeholders further emphasized that the absence of clear possession thresholds contributes to overcrowding in the criminal justice system and diverts attention from a public health-centered response. They argued that establishing defined thresholds would help distinguish between trafficking and personal use, enabling a more proportionate and rights-based approach to drug policy. This shift, they noted, is critical to reducing stigma, improving health-seeking behaviour, and strengthening Nigeria’s overall response to HIV/AIDS and TB.

Lawyers Alert was represented by its Legal Director, Bamidele A. Jacobs, who actively contributed to technical discussions on legal and policy reforms required to advance the rights of people who use drugs. He underscored the importance of aligning national drug policies with public health objectives and human rights standards, while also promoting reforms that support access to healthcare, reduce

criminalisation, and ensure more humane and evidence-informed responses to drug use in Nigeria.