Nigeria Ex-Leader Wants Drug Use Decriminalized

Former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo believes African countries should decriminalize drug use.



"We should be thinking of decriminalizing drug use and low-level non-violent drugs offenses," Obasanjo said after a meeting with John Dramani Mahama, president of Ghana and chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Wednesday.



Obasanjo, chairman of the West Africa Commission on Drugs (WACD), provided Mahama with a copy of a WACD report which recommends, among other things, decriminalizing the possession of drugs for recreational purposes.



It suggests that drug use should be regarded as a public health issue rather than a criminal one.



"We believe drug laws should be reformed because the existing laws do not do justice to health care delivery," Obasanjo said.



"Even in the USA, where they have tried to wage war on drugs, they are now rethinking [drug policy]," he said.



"Some states have taken measures to decriminalize marijuana use," added the former Nigerian leader.



He went on to lament that "small fry" tended to end up in jail while the "big barons" went free.



"They [drug barons] hob-nob with the makers and shakers of society," said Obasanjo.



The 11-member WACD – comprised of high-profile West African personalities from the field of politics, civil society, health, security and judiciary – was set up in 2013 to investigate perceived threats posed by drugs.



In June, it concluded that drug trafficking, consumption and production were undermining local institutions, threatening public health and hurting development efforts in West Africa.



Former U.N. chief Kofi Anan, whose foundation helped produce the report, said the drug menace represented a global issue.



"The regions and countries concerned must work together," he said after meeting with President Mahama.



Annan noted that preparations were currently underway for an international conference devoted to the issue in 2016.



"I hope we will all be ready for that conference and propose changes for the region," he said.



President Mahama agreed.



"Think globally [and] act locally to achieve the goals against the menace of drugs in West Africa and the continent," he said.



Mahama vowed to use his current position as ECOWAS chief to help fight the illicit drug trade in the West African sub-region.



By Umaru Sanda Amadu



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