Anti-Narcotics: More trouble for Nigerian drug traffickers as NASS passes life imprisonment bill 

*The Nigerian Senate, in the National Assembly, in Abuja, amends the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act to impose life imprisonment on drug offenders and traffickers for much stricter penalties to deter drug-related crimes in the country

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

For stricter penalties to deter drug-related crimes, the Senate, in the Nigerian National Assembly (NASS) Thursday, November 21, 2024, in Abuja, FCT, amended the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act, imposing life imprisonment for drug offenders and traffickers.

ConsumerConnect reports the Federal lawmakers, at the plenary Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin presided over, made the amendment to the Bill for Life Imprisonment for Drug Traffickers with a voice vote.

This move was sequel to the Senate and House of Representatives’ adoption of the harmonised report on the amendment.

Presenting the report, Senator Tahir Monguno, Chairman of the Senate Conference Committee, said the amendment to the Bill had introduced stricter penalties to deter drug crimes in the West African country.

Senator Monguno stated: “Any person who unlawfully engages in the storage, custody, movement, carriage or concealment of dangerous drugs or controlled substances and, while doing so, is armed with an offensive weapon or disguised in any manner, commits an offence under this Act and is liable, upon conviction, to life imprisonment.”

The Upper Legislative Chamber thereafter endorsed the amendment via a voice vote at the plenary Thursday.