In a significant move to curb drug-related crimes, the National Assembly has approved an amendment to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act, imposing life imprisonment for individuals found guilty of drug trafficking and other related offenses.
The Senate, during a plenary session presided over by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North), concurred with the House of Representatives to replace the death penalty with life imprisonment for drug offenders.
The decision follows the harmonization of conflicting provisions in Section 11 of the NDLEA Act by a conference committee comprising members from both chambers.
Previously, the Senate’s version of the amendment retained the death penalty, while the House proposed life imprisonment.
The agreement reached through the conference committee reflects a unified approach to tackling the growing menace of drug trafficking in Nigeria.
Senator Tahir Monguno, former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters, urged his colleagues to adopt the House’s recommendation, emphasizing the need for a consistent legal framework.
With this amendment, Nigeria aligns with international human rights standards while intensifying efforts to combat illicit drug activities across the nation.
