By Habeeb Ibrahim
The Nigerian Senate has passed the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) bill, prescribing the death sentence for drug traffickers in strengthen the country’s drug laws and combat drug abuse.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act (Amendment Bill) 2024, passed on Thursday, includes the death penalty for manufacturers of hard drugs and 15 years’ imprisonment for consumers.
The bill, presented by Senator Mongonu Tahir, chair of the Senate committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters, aims to enhance drug laws, update the list of dangerous drugs, and bolster the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s (NDLEA) operations. It also grants the NDLEA the authority to establish laboratories.
The bill’s passage was met with some controversy over the voice votes, with some senators arguing that life and death matters should not be rushed.
Under the revised law, individuals found guilty of importing, manufacturing, producing, processing, planting, or growing hard drugs like cocaine, LSD, and heroin will face the death penalty.
The bill has sparked mixed reactions, with some welcoming it as a necessary measure to combat drug trafficking and others expressing concerns about the introduction of capital punishment.
The bill will now be sent to the House of Representatives for further consideration before it can be signed into law by the President.
