National Assembly Approves Life Imprisonment for Drug Offenders

The National Assembly yesterday approved an amendment to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act. This decision followed the Senate’s adoption of the conference committee’s report on the amendment.

Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno, Chairman of the Senate Conference Committee, explained that the amendment includes life imprisonment for certain drug-related offenses. The committee recommended:

“Any person who is unlawfully involved in the storage, custody, movement, carriage, or concealment of dangerous drugs or controlled substances, and who, while so involved, is armed with an offensive weapon or disguised in any way, shall be guilty of an offense under this Act and liable, upon conviction, to life imprisonment.”

The Senate approved this recommendation through a voice vote conducted by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin during plenary.

In addition, the Senate passed a bill granting the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) the authority to monitor funds accruing to and disbursed from the Federation Account. This followed the adoption of a report by the committees on National Planning and Economic Affairs, Finance, and Appropriations.