The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has stated that there is no proof of the death penalty’s effectiveness. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has stated that the Nigerian Senate’s decision to impose capital punishment on drug traffickers may have little or no impact on crime reduction.
Oliver Stolpe, UNODC Country Representative, delivered the verdict at a two-day Media Personnel Training on Anti-Corruption, Police Accountability, Wildlife Crime, and Drugs Prevention, Treatment, and Care (DPTC) organised by the UNODC, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and other partners in Abuja on Tuesday.
He stated: “The deterrent effect of the death sentence has never been clearly established. There is no indication that the death penalty is effective.
The United Nations’ attitude on the death penalty is unequivocal: we are firmly opposed to it. And from a practical standpoint, it does not make sense,” he remarked.
Stolpe underlined that the UN has long called for a clear difference between drug trafficking offences and the issue of drug use, which it believes primarily to be a health issue and should be addressed accordingly. Addiction is a medical issue; it is not an option.”
Regarding the need for updated drug statistics for Nigerians, he noted that the latest national drug survey for Nigeria was conducted six years ago (2018), and thus does not reflect the current situation in Nigeria. He stated that: “
The drug use survey of 2018 remains, as far as I can tell, the most cited study in the media; however, this data is outdated, and I believe a very critical question that the media could ask at that point is, how can we still refer to 2018 data to describe today’s levels of drug use?”
Brigadier General Buba Marwa (Retired), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), emphasised the relevance of the training, stating that the media remains a vital partner in Nigeria’s drug battle.
Shedrach Haruna, Secretary of NDLEA, stated, “For us in NDLEA, the media is a valued partner on whom we rely to foster a friendly ecosystem that supports in the prevention of illicit drug misuse and trafficking in society.
Shedrach Haruna, Secretary of NDLEA, stated, “For us at NDLEA, the media is a valuable partner on whom we rely to establish a friendly ecosystem that aids in the prevention of illicit drug consumption and trafficking in society.