Nigeria’s House of Representatives has announced its intention to endorse the Senate’s proposal of imposing the death penalty on drug dealers and peddlers once the bill reaches its chamber.
According to reports, the Nigerian Senate has sanctioned the death penalty for individuals involved in the dealing and importing of hard drugs and narcotics. This severe punishment extends to manufacturers and traffickers who distribute hard drugs through any means.
This decision was reached following discussions on the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024. Ali Ndume, the Senate Majority Whip, proposed during the deliberations on the bill that the punishment of life imprisonment should be elevated to the death penalty.
In an interview, Philip Agbese, the House’s deputy spokesman, stated that it is customary for the House to concur with bills already passed by the Senate.
He said, “It is part of our rules to support and concur with bills already passed by the Senate. This one (NDLEA Act Amendment Bill, 2024) touches on the fabric of our society and is in tandem with the 10th House of RepresentativesLegislative Agenda.
“Mr Speaker and the entire House will be happy to receive and pass such a bill with alacrity to once again demonstrate to Nigerians that the 10th House is indeed the People’s Parliament.”
In the meantime, the Lagos State government has affirmed its preparedness to enact the bill.
Gbenga Omotoso, the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, conveyed this commitment during an interview, asserted that Lagos State would promptly enforce the law once President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signs it into law.
He said, “If the Senate has made the law, I think it affects everybody in Nigeria now. The state cannot choose the one to obey and the one not to obey. I think it is a federal matter and since it is a federation it affects all of us.
“I’m not a lawyer but I think it’s a federation and when the Senate says this is the law, that is the law. The state cannot choose which one to obey or not.”