Nigeria’s Senate has proposed a significant toughening of penalties for drug trafficking, with a new amendment that would make the death penalty the maximum sentence. The proposed amendment, which is not yet law, would replace the previous maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country with over 200 million people, has seen a shift from being a transit point for illegal drugs to becoming a major producer, consumer, and distributor in recent years.
Opioid abuse, particularly of tramadol and codeine-containing cough syrups, has been widespread in Nigeria. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control banned the production and import of codeine cough syrup in 2018.
While cannabis is grown locally, cocaine, methamphetamine, and other narcotics are trafficked through Nigeria alongside opioids, contributing to a growing addiction problem.
The legislation proposing the death penalty stemmed from a report presented by Senator Mohammed Monguno during Thursday’s plenary session. Supporters of the amendment argue that the threat of execution would act as a stronger deterrent to drug traffickers than life imprisonment.
However, opponents of the measure have raised concerns about the irreversible nature of the death penalty and the potential for wrongful convictions. The House of Representatives had previously passed the bill without the death penalty provision. The final version of the bill will be determined by five select members of the Senate and House before it is sent to the president for approval.
