The Federal Government is working to amend Nigeria’s drug laws to remove the option of fines for convicted drug traffickers, replacing it with mandatory prison sentences ranging from 15 to 25 years.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) disclosed the plan on Monday, describing the current provision that allows convicted traffickers to pay fines instead of serving jail terms as a major loophole that undermines the fight against illicit drugs.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said the proposed amendment is being championed through the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
According to him, the executive bill will soon be transmitted to the National Assembly for consideration.
“There is a small snag there, and that is the issue of the option of fine, and we are very grateful that the Federal Government, through the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, is addressing that.
“I think there is an executive bill which will soon get to the National Assembly to amend the law so that there will be no option of fine.
“Because they know that there is a loophole for an option of fine, the judge gives an option of fine, then you find them paying whether N5 million, N10 million or N20 million.
“But that, I believe, is being addressed at the moment and when that law is passed, there will be nothing like that. You will have probably a minimum of 15 and up to 25 years in prison so that you know that when you are arrested you are going to jail and you lose everything,” Babafemi said.
He explained that the proposed amendment is intended to ensure convicted drug traffickers serve custodial sentences rather than paying fines and returning to the illicit drug trade.
Babafemi commended the judiciary for its support in prosecuting drug-related offences, noting that the NDLEA currently records a conviction rate of nearly 90 per cent.
He described the global drug trade as a complex challenge but said the agency has continued to record significant successes through sustained enforcement operations.
According to him, the crackdown has reduced the availability of illicit drugs across the country, leading to shortages and a sharp increase in street prices.
He noted that some drug users have openly complained on social media about the rising cost of narcotics, attributing the increase to the agency’s intensified operations.
“If you follow some of the conversations online, you will hear young people complaining, ‘Why are you people always seizing these things? Now because of what you are doing, a gram of cannabis has moved from N5,000 to N35,000,'” he said.
Babafemi also revealed that recent investigations uncovered billions of naira in the bank accounts of suspected drug traffickers.
He said the accounts have been frozen while the agency pursues legal processes to secure the forfeiture of the funds to the Federal Government.
The NDLEA spokesperson added that intensified enforcement has made Nigeria increasingly hostile for drug trafficking operations, forcing many traffickers to relocate to other countries.
He, however, said the agency continues to work closely with international law enforcement partners to track down fleeing suspects and ensure they are brought to justice.