The National Assembly on Thursday, November 21, passed an amendment to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act.

The resolution of the Senate followed its adoption of the report of its conference committee on the amendment of the NDLEA Act.

According to the Chairman of the Senate Conference Committee that harmonised the report of both chambers, Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno, the amendment provides for life imprisonment for drug offenders.

The committee recommended: ?Any person who is unlawfully involved in the storage, custody, movement, carriage or concealment of dangerous drugs or controlled substances and who, while so involved is armed with any offensive weapon or is disguised in any way, shall be guilty of an offence under this Act and liable on conviction to be sentenced to life imprisonment.?

Senators approved the recommendation when it was put to a voice vote by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin during plenary. (The Nation)