Senate set to introduce Death Penalty for Drug Offenses
Unless there is an intervention, the Senate is set to reinstate the death penalty for drug-related convictions. This follows a bill that recently passed its second reading in the upper legislative chamber, proposing capital punishment for those found guilty of drug offenses.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act (Amendment Bill 2024), which is now scheduled for a third reading, calls for the death penalty for individuals involved in the production, trafficking, delivery, or use of drugs. Currently, the maximum penalty under the existing law is life imprisonment.
Senate Whip Ali Ndume, during the debate on the bill, advocated for the death penalty, arguing that it aligns with global practices. He asserted, “We need to implement this to tackle the drug problem that is severely affecting our youth. The penalty should be death, whether by hanging or other means.”
Efforts by some senators to bring the bill to a vote were blocked by the deputy senate president on procedural grounds. If the bill passes its third reading, it will require the president’s assent to become law. This would mark a return to executing those convicted of drug-related offenses, a step some consider regressive.
The significant harm caused by the consumption, production, and sale of hard drugs has been a major concern for the government. Many violent crimes are linked to the abuse of harmful substances by young people. Despite strict measures by government agencies to combat this issue, the illegal drug trade persists. Therefore, it is essential that our laws are updated to address these challenges, which is the purpose of the NDLEA Act amendment.
In January last year, NDLEA Chief Executive Officer Mohammed Marwa highlighted the growing sophistication of the drug trade. He revealed that within the first two years of his tenure, 26,485 drug traffickers, including 34 drug barons, were arrested. Additionally, 3,733 drug dealers were convicted and sentenced to various jail terms in the same period, illustrating the extent of the problem.
Despite efforts to deter drug dealers and manufacturers, these measures have not been sufficient. This is why Ndume supports the death penalty. However, his assertion that this is a global standard is inaccurate.
In reality, most advanced democracies have abolished capital punishment. While the United States still applies it for severe crimes like murder and treason, a jury must decide on its imposition. The United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada have all eliminated the death penalty. In Europe, only Belarus and Russia retain it, with Russia having a moratorium on executions since 1996.
Thus, the claim that capital punishment for drug offenses is a global norm is unfounded. While countries like Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, India, and Indonesia still enforce it, this is not a universal practice. The reasons for retaining capital punishment in these countries are complex and context-specific, and Nigeria does not necessarily share these conditions.
