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.

Daniel Chapo has announced that he will run for president in the October election on behalf of the ruling FRELIMO party in Mozambique.

Since achieving independence in 1975, FRELIMO has ruled the nation in southern Africa, and the party is hoping that Chapo can lead it to another win in the election on October 9.

“The soap opera of speculation is over, including speculation about the third term,” President Filipe Nyusi said on state television on Sunday, dismissing the prospect of contesting elections again.

“We must all unite around comrade Daniel Francisco Chapo, in the demanding march towards electoral victory next October,” Nyusi said.

The president of Mozambique is limited to two terms of five years by the constitution. Nevertheless, following his reelection as party leader in 2022, there had been conjecture in the media that Nyusi may run for a third term.

Chapo, a relatively unknown person in national politics, is the governor of the province of Inhambane in southern Mozambique. As to the party announcement, he secured 225 votes (about 94%) from the central committee of the party.

“We are going to work with all social strata,” Chapo said on television after his win.

Chapo, a former radio host, was born in 1977, making him the first candidate for FRELIMO to be born since the nation gained its independence.

He has served in many governmental capacities, most notably as an administrator of the districts of Nacala and Palma. He also has a master’s degree in development management and a law degree.