Senate Proposes 15-Year Jail Term for Drug Hawking

On Wednesday, during a session in Abuja, the Nigerian Senate passed a bill for a second reading that proposes a 15-year jail term for individuals involved in drug hawking, specifically targeting the manufacturing, sale, and trafficking of counterfeit pharmaceutical products. The bill, titled "An Act to Amend the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Food (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act Cap C 34 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004," seeks to enhance penalties for offenses, particularly in cases where death occurs due to such actions.

Sponsored by Senator Suleiman Umar Sadiq of the All Progressives Congress (APC) representing Kwara North, the bill addresses the growing health concerns linked to counterfeit drugs and unwholesome food. The senator noted that advancements in technology have made it easier for offenders to produce and distribute fake products, often using social media, which current laws, established two decades ago, do not adequately address.

The bill also aims to clarify the roles of regulatory agencies like NAFDAC to prevent conflicts in implementation.