Senate approves death penalty for those convicted of drug trafficking or consumption in Nigeria

The Nigerian Senate approved a bill that contemplates the application of the death penalty to those convicted of drug trafficking or consumption, until now punished with life imprisonment.

The bill – which is now awaiting ratification by the President, Bola Tinubu – called the “National Drug Law Enforcement Act 2024”, received the support of senators in third reading and provides for the death penalty for anyone who imports, manufactures, produces, processes or sells hard drugs such as cocaine or heroin.

Senate leader Ali Ndume said the life sentence for these crimes should be “toughened” and “changed to the death penalty,” according to the Nigerian daily Punch.

“This is the global norm. We have to do this to solve the drug problem, which has seriously affected our young people,” she said, arguing: “It has to be tougher than life imprisonment. It should be the death penalty, by hanging or other methods”, he argued.

However, senators who oppose changing the legislation expressed concern about the irreversible nature of this type of sentence and the possibility of innocent people being convicted.

Police sources cited by Punch said the change would “send a strong message to drug dealers and users”.

The bill has now been sent to Tinubu’s office, who is yet to give his consent for the law to be enacted.