The Federal Government of Nigeria is set to implement a sweeping policy shift in its anti-narcotics campaign by amending the nation’s drug laws to completely eliminate the option of fines for convicted drug traffickers. The NDLEA disclosed this development on Monday, June 29, 2026. The agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, revealed the details during an appearance on Channels Television Station.
The proposed legislative amendment, which is being spearheaded by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, seeks to close a long-standing legal loophole. Under the current framework, judges retain the discretion to issue monetary fines in lieu of custodial sentences, a provision that authorities argue undermines the justice system.
​Speaking on the development, the spokesperson for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Femi Babafemi, disclosed that an executive bill will soon be transmitted to the National Assembly to institutionalize the change.
​Once enacted, the law will replace the discretionary fine system with mandatory prison terms ranging from 15 to 25 years for convicted traffickers.
​”Because they know that there is a loophole for an option of fine, the judge gives an option of fine, then you find them paying whether ₦5 million, ₦10 million, or ₦20 million,” Babafemi stated. “But when that law is passed, there will be nothing like that. You will have probably a minimum of 15 then 25 years in prison, so that you know that when you are arrested, you are going to jail and you lose everything.”
​The NDLEA has consistently maintained that the ability of high-profile traffickers to pay their way out of jail time severely weakens the deterrent effect of the law. NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has long advocated for stricter sentencing guidelines, noting that financial penalties fail to disrupt the immense profitability of the illicit drug trade.
​Despite the challenges posed by the current legal framework, the NDLEA reports a conviction rate of nearly 90%, attributing its success to strong partnerships within the judiciary.
​The agency emphasizes that removing the fine option will serve as an unyielding deterrent, preventing repeat offenses and forcing key players out of the illicit trade permanently.
​The proposed amendment comes amid an aggressive crackdown by the NDLEA on narcotics distribution networks. The agency’s sustained offensive actions have already triggers massive spikes in the street prices of illicit substances due to widespread scarcity.
​Furthermore, the NDLEA revealed that it has successfully uncovered and frozen billions of naira tracking through the bank accounts of suspected drug kingpins, with ongoing legal processes to ensure the permanent forfeiture of those assets to the Federal Government.
​With this upcoming executive bill, the Federal Government signals a definitive hardening of its stance, aiming to transform Nigeria into an entirely hostile environment for international and local drug syndicates.
