Nigeria Senate approved death penalty for drug traffickers

The Senate of Nigeria approved the death penalty for drug traffickers, including importers and distributors of heroin, cocaine, and other strong drugs. The production, transportation, sale, or distribution of hard drugs through any source is also subject to the proposed death sentence.

The Senate discussed the 2024 National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act (Amendment Bill) before coming to a resolution on the red chamber floor. The maximum penalty for drug traffickers in the recent Drugs Enforcement Act is life imprisonment.

Senator Ali Ndume suggested that the life sentence penalty be toughened and raised to the death penalty during the report on the bill’s approval. Section 11 of the current law specifies the punishment for importing or selling drugs.

Hence, Senator Ali wanted this punishment to enhance up to the death penalty. He stated that this life imprisonment needs to change to the death penalty. It is the global norm. They must take action to fight the drug problem, which has a significant negative impact on their children.

However, several senators and colleagues of Senator Ali did not show agreement with his proposal. Former Edo State governor Adams Oshiomhole voiced his concerns on the floor. Adams said he rarely joked about matters relating to life and death.

A Senator from the "demonic" APC, Adams Oshiomhole, has always stood in the National Assembly to criticize and advice the Federal Government over it's huge cost of governance.

But we have opportunists from the godly Labour Party that are just there to warm the seats and enrich… pic.twitter.com/2S8zMcjhOe
— Lawrence I. Okoro ( Sir Law ) (@LawrenceOkoroPG) May 8, 2024

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According to Adams, they must take responsibility for decisions about life and death. He requested to divide the Senate on this matter as he considers it the process of legislating. He emphasized that they are not just here to cast votes in favor of the new Act.

Meanwhile, the deputy president of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, disagreed with Senator Adams Oshiomhole. He said to Adams that he should have called for a division in the Senate right after the vote and before they moved on to another part of the amendment bill.

Barau said this is about the procedure. You (Adams) did not call for a division when you were supposed to. So, he is sorry, he cannot help him. Hence, the Senate of Nigeria approved the death penalty for drug traffickers and distributors.