On Thursday, May 9, 2024, the Nigerian Senate approved the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act (Amendment) Bill 2024, which stipulated the death penalty for hard drug manufacturers, traffickers, and dealers.
According to the report, Section 11 of the existing law captures the existing punishment of life in prison, which the amended law counterpoises. Ali Ndume (Borno South) suggested an upgrade and toughening of the life imprisonment sentence.
“We should change this life imprisonment to a death sentence.” Ndume noted, “This is the standard worldwide.” Under the Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau, the senate subjected the recommendation to a voice vote, with the majority of the senators consenting to the amendment.
‘Nigeria Drug War’
In 2020, a report by the United Nations classified Nigeria as having the highest drug use prevalence rate in the world, at 14.3%, compared to 5.3% for the entire global community. Mrs Folusho Ajayi Adelekan, the National Programme Officer of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, disclosed this shocking revelation at a sensitisation workshop on drug abuse and rape, organised by Christabel’s Initiatives and facilitated by the Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Narcotic Drugs.
“Aside from the lack of a well-funded operation plan, there are not enough treatment or rehabilitation centres in the country for drug addicts,” Dr Adelekan posited. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) echoed similar concerns in 2023 when it disclosed that 12.9 million Nigerians are addicted to cannabis.
“Nigeria has emerged as a major transit point for the global heroin trade,” a report by the Global Organised Crime Index claimed, “with drug traffickers using the country to smuggle large quantities of heroin to Europe and North America.” According to the report, Nigeria is a significant hub for the cannabis trade because it is a country of origin, departure, and transit for the drug.
Another Global Report on Cocaine 2023 also says the Nigerian market tops the list of cocaine-smuggling regions in Africa. According to the report, “cocaine arrives in Nigeria via a variety of channels, including bulk carrier vessels arriving at seaports such as Apapa, Tincan Island, and onne; passenger flights into airports such as those of Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, and Kano; across land borders at various locations, including Seme (on the border with Benin) and Ilela (on the border with Niger); and parcels delivered by courier companies or postal services.”
Death Penalty: A Deterrent or Flawed Policy?
While Senator Ndume suggests the death penalty is a global standard, research on its effectiveness as a deterrent for drug trafficking presents a mixed picture. A 2023 study by the London School of Economics found no significant correlation between capital punishment and reduced drug trafficking rates. Conversely, a 2022 report by the Singapore Anti-Narcotics Bureau claims a significant decline in drug offences after the implementation of the death penalty.
The death penalty can also have unintended consequences. A 2021 report by Transparency International suggests capital punishment can create a climate of fear and corruption, where bribes are offered to avoid execution.
Although the Senate and House of Representatives have not yet harmonised their resolutions on the death penalty for drug syndicates, both chambers must reach a unanimous consensus on the appropriate punishment for any drug cartel. In this manner, the threat will significantly decrease, as the imposition of the death penalty will likely deter numerous individuals from engaging in this harmful activity.
Though Nigeria wouldn’t be alone in implementing the death penalty for drug offences, it’s important to note the international landscape is diverse.
While countries like Saudi Arabia, China, Vietnam, and North Korea have capital punishment, others like Portugal have adopted a harm reduction approach, focusing on treatment and decriminalisation, leading to a decrease in drug-related deaths.
