The bill calling for life in jail without the possibility of a fine for illegal explosive producers in the nation was approved by the Senate on Wednesday, Entrepreneurng.com.
In its third reading on Wednesday, the Senate approved a bill that would repeal the Explosives Act of 1964 and replace it with the Explosives Act of 2023. Section 11 of the bill recommends life in prison without the possibility of a fine as the penalty for anyone who manufactures explosives illegally in the nation.
Having wondered how to get a visa abroad: Click here to find out
The passage came after the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, Mines, Steel Development, and Metallurgy, led by Tanko Al-Makura, considered and approved a report.
According to the bill, “Any person who unlawfully manufactures any explosives, commits an offence and is liable to conviction to life imprisonment without the option of fine.”
The committee chairman’s representative, Adelere Oriolowo (APC, Osun), who delivered the report, stated that the issue with the use, transport, manufacturing, sale, and possession of explosives is significant.
The congressman claimed that criminals were using explosives in increasingly creative ways. He said that suicide bombers had used explosives to kill several Nigerians.
He believed that in order to minimize the criminality connected with explosives, violators ought to be put in their place. The 1964 Explosives Act was ready to handle the issue at the time, he claimed. Considering the seriousness of the offenses committed by explosive users today, the act’s fines and penalties were too light.
Accordingly, it is justified that the Bill was passed in order to stop the misuse and threat posed by criminal organizations, insurgents, and non-state actors.
“The production, storage, and use of explosives should be strictly regulated and not be open to everybody. The sanctions stipulated in the bill will discourage offenders.”
Prior to the President’s assent, the Bill is anticipated to be referred to the House of Representatives for approval. The Senate also started the process for creating a court to strictly enforce the audit report as it was approved by both chambers of the National Assembly.
The Senate’s consideration and passage of the Bill sponsored by Mathew Urhoghide (PDP Edo South), Chairman of the Committee on Public Accounts, for second reading brought attention to the necessity of an Audit Report Tribunal.
Urhoghide said the proposed legislation was crucial for the effectiveness of the fight against corruption in his opening remarks for the lead debate on the Bill seeking an Act to ensure strict implementation of the National Assembly recommendations on annual federal audit reports and for related topics.
He contends that stringent implementation or enforcement of audit report findings and recommendations is necessary for the fight against corruption to be successful.
“It’s not enough for the National Assembly, as provided for in Section 88 of the 1999 Constitution, to expose corruption through required investigation, but go further to ensure strict implementation of resolutions made,” the speaker stated.
In a similar vein, the president of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, stated in his remarks that it is imperative to address the issue of the National Assembly’s resolutions on yearly audit reports not being strictly implemented.
“The proposed law is desperately needed. For strict implementation of suggestions in the form of prosecuting criminals, something like to a tribunal is required.”
In conclusion, public hearing on this Bill must be performed thoroughly on how the Tribunal will be established as an effective way to fight corruption, as reportered by punch.com.
