The House of Representatives Committee on Narcotic Drugs, through its Chairman, Hon. Abbas Adigun (Agboworin), has presented the report of the National Assembly Conference Committee on the Bill seeking the amendment of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act, Cap. N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and for Related Matters.
The amendment recommends a life imprisonment term for drug traffickers, which would serve as a deterrent and protect Nigerian citizens from the harmful effects of drug abuse.
Agboworin, member representing Ibadan South East/North East federal constituency, laid the report before the House during plenary on Thursday, which was presided by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Kalu.
The amendment effected on the NDLEA Act had resulted into harmonization of the conference committee of the two chambers of the National Assembly on Section 11 of the NDLEA Act.
The House had earlier passed an amendment prescribing life imprisonment for drug traffickers, whereas the Senate version recommended the death penalty for offenders.
But, last Thursday, the Senate agreed with the recommendations of the House of Representatives for commuting the death sentence penalty for persons found guilty of storing, moving or concealing hard drugs and other illicit substances to life imprisonment.
The Conference Committee report is a significant step towards resolving the discrepancies and finalizing the amendment.
With the amendment, the section now reads: “Anybody 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 anyway, shall be guilty of an offence under this Act, and liable on conviction to be sentenced to life imprisonment.”
Next, the amended bill will be sent to President Bola Tinubu for assent into law.
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