House Of Reps Adopts Bill To Amend NDLEA Act, Prescribes Life Imprisonment For Drug Traffickers*

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The House of Representatives has adopted the bill to amend the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act, prescribing life imprisonment for persons found guilty of storing, moving, or concealing hard drugs and other illicit substances.

The adoption of the bill follows the presentation of the report by the Conference Committee of the National Assembly, which harmonized the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill.

Recall that the lawmaker representing Ibadan South East/ North East, Rep. Abass Adigun (Agboworin), who is also the Chairman of the House Committee on Narcotic Drugs had, last week Thursday, laid the report before the House during its plenary session.

Rising to present the motion for the consideration of the amendment report on the NDLEA Act during Tuesday plenary, he appealed to the House to consider the report and approved the recommendation.

He said: “I rise to appeal to the House to consider the report of the Conference Committee on a Bill for an act to amend the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30, law of the federation of Nigeria 2004 and for related matters, and approved the recomendation therein, laid on Thursday 28, 2024.”

Hon. Muhammed Buba Jajere, Yobe lawmaker, seconded the motion moved by the lawmaker.

The Conference Committee had met on Thursday, 24th October, 2024, and discussed that out of 31 Clauses of both versions of the Bill passed by the Senate and House respectively, it is only Clause 11 that had variation, hence the need for the conference committee to harmonize it.

Having successfully harmonized the two versions of the Bill, the conference committee adopted the House version, and conference committee hereby recommends as follows; “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 any offensive weapon or is disguised in any way, shall be guilty of an offence under this Act and liable on conviction to be sentenced to life imprisonment. I so recommend”.

The adoption of the bill by the House of Representatives is a significant step towards the enactment of the amendment into law. The bill will now be transmitted to the President for assent.

According to Rep. Agboworin, the amendment will provide stiffer penalties for drug traffickers and help to reduce the scourge of drug abuse and trafficking in Nigeria.

Concluding his remark, Agboworin thanked colleagues in the committee, the House of Representatives and its Leadership for giving the team the opportunity to serve the Nation in such capacity.