National Assembly Passes Life Imprisonment Bill for Drug Traffickers

•Amendment to NDLEA Act introduces stringent penalties as lawmakers also pass key fiscal reforms

In a decisive move aimed at combating drug-related crimes, the National Assembly has amended the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act, imposing life imprisonment for those found guilty of trafficking or engaging in unlawful activities related to dangerous drugs.

The Senate and House of Representatives, after a thorough review, adopted the harmonised report on the amendment. Senator Tahir Monguno, Chairman of the Senate Conference Committee, presented the report, underscoring that the amendment seeks to introduce stricter penalties to deter illicit drug crimes across the country.

“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,” Senator Monguno said during the presentation of the report.

The amendment, which passed through a voice vote during Thursday’s plenary session, was endorsed by the Senate under the supervision of Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin.

This legislative action marks a major step forward in addressing the escalating challenge posed by drug cartels and traffickers in Nigeria. With the inclusion of life imprisonment for offenders, authorities hope to send a clear message that the country is serious about dismantling the operations of criminal drug syndicates.

In addition to the anti-drug crime measures, the Senate also passed the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission Bill, 2024. This new legislation aims to overhaul the 2004 RMAFC Act to better reflect Nigeria’s current economic realities.

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Yahaya Abdullahi, Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Planning and Economic Affairs, highlighted the urgency of reform, citing the country’s declining revenue and rising population.

“The Act, last revised over 20 years ago, no longer reflects Nigeria’s evolving economic realities. This bill proposes additional funding and a restructured operational framework for the commission to improve its efficiency,” Abdullahi explained, stressing the need for adequate funding from the Federation Account for the RMAFC to effectively perform its constitutional duties.