Nigeria’s senate has passed a bill for a third reading that seeks to impose the death penalty on individuals convicted of drug trafficking, replacing the previous maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
The bill, which is not yet law, was introduced by Senator Mohammed Monguno on behalf of the joint committees on Judiciary and Drugs and Narcotics.
Supporters of the bill argued that the threat of execution would be a stronger deterrent to drug traffickers than life imprisonment.
However, some lawmakers expressed concerns about the irreversible nature of the death penalty and the potential for wrongful convictions. Despite these concerns, the majority of senators voted in favor of the bill.
In addition to imposing the death penalty, the bill aims to enhance the operations of the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The bill will now await presidential assent to become law. Nigeria has recently seen significant drug seizures, including cannabis and opioids, from suspected traffickers.