Nigerian Senate passes new law to impose death penalty on narcotics traffickers
A bill to impose a stiffer penalty of death sentence, to replace life imprisonment, against persons convicted of drug trafficking has passed the third reading at the Nigerian Senate.
The Senate made the resolution after it considered the report of the Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters and Drugs and Narcotics, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
The chairman of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Mohammed Monguno (APC-Borno North), presented the report during plenary on Thursday to amend the act.
“Any person who, without lawful authority, imports, manufactures, produces, processes, plants or grows the drugs popularly known as cocaine, LSD, heroin or any other similar drugs shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to be sentenced to imprisonment for life,” Section 11 of the current NDLEA act stipulates.
The new bill seeks to update the list of dangerous drugs, strengthen the NDLEA’s operations, review penalties, and empower the establishment of laboratories.
The report by the committee did not recommend a death penalty for offenders, but Ali Ndume moved a motion for the life sentence to be upgraded to the death penalty.
Presiding over the session, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin put the amendment to pass the death penalty to a voice vote and ruled that the “ayes” had it, but Senator Adams Oshiomhole objected to the ruling, insisting that the “nays” had it.
According to Mr Oshiomole, matters of life and death should not be treated in a hurry, but Mr Barau objected, saying it was too late, as he failed to call for division immediately after his ruling.
The bill was, therefore, read for the third time and subsequently passed by the lawmakers.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
Africa
President Faye, IMF chief to discuss Senegal’s economic reforms in Washington
Mr Faye arrived in Washington on Monday for a two-day working visit scheduled to end on September 15.
World
New tuberculosis vaccines could save 7.3 million lives by 2050: Gavi
Gavi said the vaccines could also unlock up to $135 billion in economic benefits across low- and middle-income countries.
Sport
2026 highest-paid footballers globally
Erling Haaland is the highest-paid player in terms of salary outside Saudi Arabia. Haaland is on a £27.3 million-a-year contract at the Etihad Stadium.
NationWide
60,000 women benefitted from free emergency obstetric services in two years: Pate
The minister said the intervention was part of the federal government’s efforts to reduce maternal and newborn deaths.
Economy
Botswana minister commends Chinese firms for technology, jobs
Botswana’s justice minister, Nelson Ramaotwana, has praised Chinese businesses for contributing technology, skills and employment opportunities to communities across the country.
Showbiz
Carnival Calabar launches initiative to revive reading, writing culture
The Cross River State Carnival Commission has unveiled the 2026 Carnival Calabar Essay and Creative Writing Competition to promote reading and writing.
