A bill aimed at abolishing the death penalty in Nigeria has moved closer to becoming law after passing its second reading at the House of Representatives.
The proposed legislation, introduced by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and six other lawmakers, seeks to amend Section 33 (1) of the 1999 Constitution.
This section currently allows the death penalty for individuals convicted of serious crimes.
The bill suggests removing the part of the law that permits execution as punishment for crimes like armed robbery and murder.
Though Nigeria’s laws still allow the death penalty, executions have become rare.
Since 1999, many presidents and governors have avoided signing death warrants, leaving hundreds of convicted criminals on death row.
In recent years, human rights advocates have urged the government to replace the death penalty with life sentences or other long prison terms, arguing that it is a more humane approach.
This bill aims to reflect those calls by eliminating the legal backing for executions in Nigeria.
If passed, the new law could change how severe crimes are punished in the country and address concerns about justice, fairness, and human rights.
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