The National Assembly has given nod to the amendment of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act seeking life imprisonment for drug trafficking.
The amendment was on Thursday harmonised by the Senate and House of Representatives. It now requires presidential assent to become law.
The amendment followed a report by the chairman of the conference committee of the Senate, Senator Tahir Monguno.
The senator said there was a need for stiffer penalties for drug offenders to deter drug trafficking and other related offences.
โAny person who unlawfully engages in the storage, custody, movement, carriage or concealment of dangerous drugs or controlled substances and, while doing so, is armed with an offensive weapon or disguised in any manner, commits an offence under this Act and is liable, upon conviction, to life imprisonment,โ stated the amendment.