The House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee investigating the rising cases of drug trafficking and alcohol abuse has pledged to identify and prosecute those responsible, in a bid to safeguard public health and national security.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the committee’s chairman, Rep. Timeyin Adelegbe (APC–Ondo), said the House would not allow Nigeria to become a “dumping ground for toxic products, illegal drugs, predatory advertising, and destructive business practices.”

Adelegbe announced that the committee plans to hold a multi-stakeholder conference in Abuja and Lagos to gather expert opinions and public input on strategies to combat drug and substance abuse nationwide.

According to him, the initiative responds to growing public concern and calls for a national emergency that addresses public health, youth safety, corporate responsibility, and the integrity of Nigeria’s trade and regulatory systems.

“The committee is fully committed to carrying out its constitutional mandate to investigate and expose all forms of corporate and institutional misconduct contributing to the proliferation of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco-related abuse in the country,” Adelegbe said.

He explained that the investigation would examine the operations of companies within the drug, alcohol, and tobacco industries to ensure full compliance with Nigerian laws and ethical standards.

The committee’s work, he noted, will involve data collection, public hearings, and strategic conferences focusing on sectors such as alcohol, tobacco, port terminals, and pharmaceuticals in Lagos — and on government agencies, NGOs, CSOs, and regulatory bodies in Abuja.

“The conferences will serve as platforms for policy dialogue, expert recommendations, and the drafting of actionable resolutions for legislative reforms,” Adelegbe added.

The chairman warned that any individual or organisation that attempts to mislead the committee or falsify information during the investigation would be deemed to have acted in contempt of the National Assembly, as provided under Section 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

He reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to truth, transparency, and accountability, stressing that the probe was not a witch-hunt but a patriotic duty aimed at protecting Nigerians’ health and promoting ethical corporate conduct.