Yesterday, the Senate passed a bill to regulate the production, use, importation, sale, and possession of explosives in the region.
The senate committee on solid minerals, mines, steel development, and Metallurgy, led by senator tank al-makura, adopted a report.
The bill, which sought to repeal the explosives act of 1964 and re-enact the explosives act, included a provision for life imprisonment for illicit explosives manufacturers.
According to the statute, “anyone who illicitly makes any atoms commits an offense and is liable to life in prison without an option of fine.” Senator Adeleke Awolowo, who presented the report on behalf of the committee’s chairman, described the difficulty involved with the use, transport, assembly, sale, and possession of explosives as significant.
Criminals were becoming more creative in their use of explosives, he said.