The Federal Government is working to remove the option of fines for convicted drug traffickers in a move aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s fight against illicit drugs, according to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Speaking on Sunrise Daily on Monday, NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi said the proposed amendment to the NDLEA Act, being championed by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, would replace the current fine option with mandatory prison sentences of between 15 and 25 years.
Babafemi said the agency enjoys a conviction rate of nearly 90 per cent, describing the judiciary as a key partner in its efforts to prosecute drug offenders. However, he argued that allowing convicted traffickers to pay fines instead of serving prison terms weakens the fight against drug crimes.
He said an executive bill would soon be transmitted to the National Assembly to amend the law and eliminate the fine option.
According to him, convicted traffickers currently pay fines ranging from ₦5 million to ₦20 million and return to the illicit drug trade, a loophole the government now intends to close.
Babafemi said the proposed amendment would ensure offenders face imprisonment rather than fines, making drug trafficking a far less attractive criminal enterprise.
The NDLEA spokesman also said the agency’s sustained crackdown has reduced the availability of illicit drugs across Nigeria, leading to shortages and significant increases in street prices.
He cited online complaints from some drug users about the rising cost of cannabis, saying it reflected the impact of the agency’s enforcement operations.
Babafemi added that the NDLEA has uncovered billions of naira in bank accounts linked to suspected drug traffickers during recent investigations. He said the accounts have been frozen while the agency seeks court orders to forfeit the funds to the Federal Government.
He also claimed Nigeria has become increasingly hostile to drug traffickers, forcing many to relocate abroad. According to him, the NDLEA is working with international partners to track and prosecute suspects who flee the country.
