Politics

Nigeria’s Senate wants capital punishment for drug trafficking

Published

8 months ago

May 10, 2024

The Nigerian Senate has put forward a proposal to greatly increase the severity of punishments for drug trafficking. This would involve amending the legislation to make the death penalty the highest possible sentence.

The modification, pending legislation, substitutes life imprisonment, formerly the most severe penalty. Nigeria, the country with the highest population in Africa, over 200 million individuals, has experienced a significant shift in its role from only serving as a transit point for illicit narcotics to becoming a fully-fledged producer, user, and distributor.

One of Nigeria’s socialchallenges is the issue of illicit drug trafficking and usage. Illicit narcotics like as cannabis, cocaine, heroin, amphetamine, ephedrine, and psychotropic drugs, although primarily manufactured abroad, are in great demand and frequently misused by individuals from diverse social, religious, and cultural backgrounds.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has reported that there is a significant prevalence of opioid misuse in Nigeria, particularly with tramadol and cough syrups that contain codeine. In response to this issue, the agency implemented a ban on the production and importation of codeine cough syrup in 2018.

Although cannabis is grown domestically, cocaine, methamphetamine, and other narcotics are smuggled into the country, along with opiates, to fuel an increasing addiction issue.

The legislation originated from a report given by Senator Mohammed Monguno during Thursday’s plenary session of the Senate committees on judiciary, human rights and legal concerns, and drugs and narcotics.

Some advocates contended that the prospect of capital punishment would function as a more potent deterrence for individuals involved in drug trafficking compared to being sentenced to life in prison.

Meanwhile, legislators who were against the proposal voiced apprehensions regarding the permanent nature of capital punishment and the potential for erroneous convictions.

The law was previously approved by the House of Representatives, however without including a provision for the death sentence. A group of five distinguished members from the Senate and House will be required to reconcile the two versions before it is presented to the president.

The proliferation of drug trafficking has reached an alarming magnitude, presenting a grave menace to both the safety of individuals and the security of nations, and some of its neighbours in the West African sub-region.

Related Topics:Drug Traficcking Featured Nigeria

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Politics

Mozambique’s top court affirms governing party’s victory in recent election

Published

2 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

The highest court in Mozambique affirmed Monday that the incumbent Frelimo party won the October election, sparking widespread demonstrations from opposition parties who claim the vote was manipulated.

Fears of fresh bloodshed have been raised in the nation already shaken by weeks of fatal protests after Mozambique’s top electoral court mostly confirmed the results of the country’s contentious October elections, reinforcing the Frelimo party’s decades-long hold on power.

The final decision on the election process rests with the Constitutional Council. Mozambique, a nation of over 35 million people in Southern Africa that Frelimo has ruled since 1975, is expected to see more protests in response to its judgement.

Mozambique operates a framework of a semi-presidential representative democratic republic in a multi-party system. The president of Mozambique serves as both the head of state and the head of government.

The government exercises executive power. The administration and the Assembly of the Republic have the authority to enact laws.

Politics

Alliance of Sahel States opposes ECOWAS disengagement schedule

Published

2 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) withdrawal timeline has been rejected by the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which is made up of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

The AES claims that the ECOWAS is attempting to destabilise their newly formed organisation.

During a meeting last week in Abuja, Nigeria, the regional organisation announced a six-month withdrawal period to give the three nations time to change their minds after their official departure date at the end of January 2025.

However, this decision is “nothing more than yet another attempt by the French and its auxiliaries to continue planning and carrying out destabilising actions against the AES,” according to the heads of state of the AES.

“This unilateral decision is not binding on the ESA countries,” the statement continues. Before the conference, they stated that their choice to leave the organisation was “irreversible.”

According to the president of the Ecowas Commission, this will be a “transition period” that ends on “July 29, 2025” to “keep the doors of Ecowas open.”

The three nations accused the bloc of neglecting to assist them in resolving their domestic security challenges and of imposing “inhumane and irresponsible” sanctions related to the coup.

The three nations that were involved in the coup have mostly rejected ECOWAS’ attempts to undo their withdrawal. They are creating their alliance and have begun thinking about how to issue travel passports independently of ECOWAS.

It is anticipated that they will finish giving their one-year notice of departure in January.

Visa-free travel to other ECOWAS members is a significant perk of membership, and it is unclear how this would alter after the three nations exit the group.