Tension is rising in the National Assembly as the Senate has expressed concern over the continued delay in implementing its resolution on compensation and medical support for victims of a tragic shooting incident involving the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Legislative Compliance, Senator Ede Omueya Dafinone (APC, Delta Central), disclosed on Tuesday that nearly two years after the incident, key directives issued by the Senate to compensate the bereaved family and provide treatment for an injured child have yet to be fully carried out.
Speaking with journalists shortly after a committee sitting, Dafinone recalled that the Senate had, in July 2025, passed a resolution directing the Federal Government to pay N200 million in compensation to the family of a child who died in the accidental shooting.
The upper chamber also mandated the NDLEA to provide funds for the treatment of another child whose eyes were severely damaged during the same incident.
According to the lawmaker, progress on both directives has been slow, raising concern within the committee responsible for ensuring compliance with legislative resolutions.
“We have not received accurate or satisfactory updates on the health condition of the injured child nearly two years after the incident,” Dafinone said.
“Our committee was specifically mandated to ensure that the Senate’s resolutions are implemented, including the payment of the N200 million compensation and the provision of funds for the treatment of the child whose eyes were damaged.”
The committee disclosed that the NDLEA had been advised to approach the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to access funds from government accounts containing confiscated assets, which could legally be used for such compensatory payments.
However, Dafinone said efforts to secure the necessary approval have not produced any positive response.
“Unfortunately, we have not received any positive response from the Attorney General’s office,” he said.
“They were invited to our meeting but did not attend, and attempts by the NDLEA to reach them directly have also not produced any meaningful outcome.”
The situation has become more urgent due to concerns about the worsening condition of the surviving child whose eyesight was badly damaged during the incident.
While the NDLEA has reportedly offered an interim sum to the family to begin treatment, the family has insisted that the child be taken abroad for medical care.
Dafinone warned that delays in commencing treatment could have serious consequences.
“I cannot imagine parents sitting at home saying that if the NDLEA does not bring the full amount to take the child abroad, they will wait until he goes blind. That is simply not reasonable,” he said.
“What is important now is to begin treatment immediately to preserve the child’s sight.”
He urged the family to accept the interim funds offered by the agency and commence treatment locally while further funding arrangements are pursued.
“I am not an eye specialist, but Nigeria has competent medical professionals and facilities capable of providing initial treatment,” he noted.
“Rather than allow the child’s condition to deteriorate while waiting for funds to travel abroad, treatment should begin here. If the funds run out, additional support can then be requested.”
The committee chairman confirmed that the issue has been escalated to the leadership of the Senate, including the Senate President, who has been fully briefed on the situation.
He assured Nigerians that the National Assembly remains committed to ensuring justice for the victims.
“There is a limit to what the committee alone can do, but the Senate President is fully aware of where we stand,” Dafinone said.
“I am confident that further action will be taken to ensure justice is served and that the young boy receives the treatment needed to save his sight.”
The case has continued to draw attention from civil society groups and human rights advocates, who argue that the delay in implementing the Senate’s resolution highlights broader accountability challenges within government institutions.
For the grieving family and the injured child, however, the matter remains a race against time to secure justice, compensation, and life-saving medical care.
