The Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA), Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, has announced that it’s new bill would remove the option of fine for offenders.
The Chief Executive made this announcement at the NDLEA Special Purpose Committee conference in Abuja, on Thursday.
The new bill which is currently at its amendment stage, is a private bill sponsored by the Chairman of the Senate Commutee on Drugs and Narcotics, Senator Hezekiah Dimka.
Asides from the removal of fines, the bill will also push to make punishments for drug offenses more stringent.
Marwa said, “Let me state from the onset that contrary to a recent report that the drug abuse problem is in every household in Nigeria, I’ll like to correct that misrepresentation and state that there are indeed families not afflicted by this menace. However, that we can’t say of the communities. It is almost certain that every community has this problem. That said, I will like to assure that the NDLEA Act is presently in its final stage of it’s amendment at the National Assembly. It’s a private bill sponsored by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics, Senator Hezekiah Dimka and it will among other things remove the option of fine in the sentencing of offenders as well as make punishments for drug offences more stringent.”
The new bill is the Agency’s attempt at discouraging the trafficking of illicit substances through stringent punishment for such crimes.
Giving a goodwill message at the conference, the First Lady of Edo State, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, emphasized the importance of the committee to the work of the NDLEA, praising the chief executive for his commitment and patriotism.
