The Senate has approved death penalty for those involved in producing and selling hard drugs, as well as a 15-year prison term for drug users.
This decision followed a review of the report by the Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, and Drugs and Narcotics on the amendment of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act.
The Senate deemed these changes necessary due to the high prevalence of substance abuse among youths, often influenced by peer pressure. Despite some objections, the amendments were passed.
The bill will now be sent to President Bola Tinubu for final approval, pending any differences between the House of Representatives and Senate versions.
Senator Mohammed Monguno, Chairman of the Committee, addressing newsmen after the amendment, said: “The import of the amendment of the NDLEA Act as passed by the Senate today (yesterday) and particularly with regards to the provision for punishment, is that the Senate in its wisdom decided to prescribe the punishment of death sentence for people who engage in the manufacturing and processing of hard drugs.”
“But for the people that engage in the consumption of these hard drugs, I think the Senate in its wisdom decided to prescribe jail term, in view of the havoc being created by substance and drug abuse in this country, which if not nipped in the bud, have the potential of destroying the future of this country.
“This is because it is the majority of the youths that are engaged in the drug and substance abuse, sometimes innocently as a result of peer group influence.”
