Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has recommended capital punishment for drug traffickers as a means to curb the menace in Nigeria.
Obi made the call in a series of tweets on Wednesday, coinciding with the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
He also urged the federal government to invest in rehabilitating those already ensnared in drug abuse.
He said, “Today is set aside by the global community to commemorate the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. It is a day set out to strengthen actions that will rid society of drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking.
“We must, therefore, seek to save our nation from the menace of drug abuse and illicit trafficking. More efforts must be channelled into preventing the spread of this virus.
“The government should invest in rehabilitating those already caught in the web of drug abuse and stringent punishment meted out to drug traffickers. With commitment and sincerity of action, we can achieve a drug-free nation in a New Nigeria that is possible.”
On May 9, the Senate proposed death penalty as the new maximum punishment for drug trafficking, replacing the previous sentence of life imprisonment.
This comes as Nigeria, with its population exceeding 200 million, has transitioned from a transit point to a significant producer, consumer, and distributor of illicit drugs.
The country faces widespread opioid abuse, particularly with tramadol and codeine-containing cough syrups. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control banned codeine syrup in 2018.
While cannabis is cultivated locally, cocaine, methamphetamine, and other drugs are trafficked, contributing to the worsening addiction crisis.
The Senate’s proposal, based on a Senate report, aims to deter traffickers by introducing the possibility of execution.
Nevertheless, some lawmakers express concerns about the irreversible nature of the death penalty and the potential for wrongful convictions.
The bill, previously approved by the House of Representatives without the death penalty provision, will require reconciliation between the Senate and House versions before it reaches President Bola Tinubu.