The Federal Government is considering scrapping fines for drug trafficking offences in favour of mandatory custodial sentences, as part of a broader overhaul of Nigeria’s drug laws.
Nigeria’s anti-drug laws could be getting tougher. According to The Guardian, the Federal Government is considering a major overhaul of the country’s drug laws by removing the option of fines for individuals convicted of drug trafficking offences.
The proposed reform aligns with long-standing advocacy by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), whose chairman, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (retd), has repeatedly argued that allowing convicted traffickers to pay fines instead of serving jail terms weakens deterrence in the fight against narcotics.
Under the proposal, those convicted under Nigeria’s drug laws would face mandatory custodial sentences, ending judicial discretion to impose fines in certain cases.
The Guardian reported the policy forms part of broader efforts to tackle trafficking networks and rising substance abuse among young Nigerians, with further details expected in coming days.
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