Illegal Explosive Manufacturers Risk Life Imprisonment

The Senate yesterday passed a bill to regulate the manufacturing, use, importation, sales and possession of explosives in the country. 

The passage followed the consideration and adoption of a report by the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, Mines, Steel Development and Metallurgy, chaired by Senator Tanko Al-Makura. 

Section 11 of the  bill seeking  to repeal the explosives Act 1964 and enact the explosives Act 2023  passed for third reading by the Senate on Wednesday,  recommends life imprisonment without option of fine,  as punishment for any person who unlawfully manufactures any explosives in the country.

It states that, “any person who unlawfully manufactures any explosives, commits an offence and is liable to conviction to life imprisonment without an option of fine”. 

Senator Adelere Oriolowo (APC, Osun) who presented the report on behalf of the committee chairman, said the problem associated with the use, shipment, manufacture, sale and possession of explosives is huge. 

The lawmaker said criminals were getting more innovative in the use of explosives to perpetrate crimes. 

He said suicide bombers had killed dozens of Nigerians using explosives. 

According to him, there was the need to put offenders in their place so that illegality associated with explosives would be reduced to the bearest minimum. 

He said, “The Explosives Act of 1964 was prepared to meet the situation as at that time. The penalties and fines in the act were too mild compared to the gravity of the offenses being committed by explosive users nowadays. 

“In line with this, the passing of the bill to checkmate the abuse and menace posed by its use by criminal groups, insurgents and non-state actors is justified. 

“The manufacture, storage and use of explosives are not to be an all comers affair and should be closely regulated. The penalties provided in the bill will serve as deterrence to offenders.”

The bill is expected to be transmitted to the House of Representatives for concurrence before the President’s assent.