The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has opposed the option of fines for drug traffickers, insisting that only strict imprisonment can effectively deter the crime.
The agency said experience has shown that allowing offenders to pay fines instead of serving jail terms has failed to curb drug trafficking, contributing to the rising cases of illicit substance abuse in the country.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Buba Marwa, made the call on Tuesday in Abuja, urging judges of the Federal High Court to prioritise custodial sentences for offenders who do not deserve leniency.
Marwa spoke during the unveiling of the National Minimum Standards on the Implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and similar laws across the 36 states.
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He revealed that Nigeria currently has over 10 million cannabis users, describing the figure as alarming.
According to him, the agency has seized about 15 million kilograms of assorted illicit drugs in the past five years, with cannabis accounting for between 70 and 75 per cent of the total.
He noted that the growing rate of cannabis cultivation prompted the agency to engage farmers, particularly in Ondo State, to abandon the cultivation of Indian hemp and adopt legitimate food and cash crops.
Marwa said the initiative has begun to yield positive results, with many farmers embracing alternative livelihoods.
He added that those who abandon cannabis cultivation would not only secure sustainable income but also avoid the risk of arrest and prosecution.
The NDLEA boss also commended the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, as well as the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, for their support and prompt response to issues concerning the agency.