According to a report by Daily Post on Sunday, September 20, 2026, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has pledged to impose life imprisonment on anyone involved in importing hard drugs into Nigeria if he wins the 2027 presidential election.
Obi made the declaration on Saturday during a town hall meeting with members and supporters of the NDC in Kaduna State, where he spoke about his proposed approach to tackling drug trafficking and substance abuse in the country.
The former Anambra State governor said his administration would take a strict position against those who bring illicit drugs into Nigeria, regardless of their social standing or political connections.
“If I assume office as President of Nigeria, anybody importing hard drugs will face a life sentence. Our youths have suffered immensely because of hard drugs,” Obi said.
The pledge comes as Nigerian authorities continue to intensify efforts to disrupt drug trafficking networks operating within and across the country’s borders.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has reported a significant number of arrests and convictions involving drug traffickers in 2026. According to the agency, 974 drug offenders were convicted between January and March, including 11 major traffickers who received combined prison sentences totalling 254 years.
The issue has remained prominent in recent weeks following several major drug-related operations. In September, the NDLEA arrested a suspected drug kingpin, Festus Ibewuike, in neighbouring Benin Republic and returned him to Nigeria. He was allegedly linked to the seizure of 49.7 kilogrammes of heroin at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
Authorities also recently dismantled what was described as an industrial-scale methamphetamine laboratory in Ebonyi State. The operation resulted in the arrest of a Mexican national at Lagos airport, according to the Associated Press, citing the NDLEA. Investigators reportedly recovered methamphetamine and substantial quantities of chemicals allegedly connected to drug production.
Obi’s comments also come against the backdrop of ongoing discussions about tougher penalties for drug trafficking in Nigeria. In June, the NDLEA disclosed that the Federal Government was working on proposals to remove the option of fines for convicted drug traffickers and replace it with mandatory prison terms ranging from 15 to 25 years. The agency described the proposed change as an effort to close what it considers a loophole in the existing legal framework.
There have also been recent cases illustrating the severity of penalties already being imposed by Nigerian courts. On September 17, a Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced a 38-year-old South African woman, Will Ann, to 25 years in prison after she pleaded guilty to importing 5.75 kilogrammes of heroin into Nigeria. The two prison terms imposed on her were ordered to run concurrently.
Nigeria’s existing drug laws already provide severe penalties for certain forms of drug importation. Under the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, a person convicted of unlawfully importing cocaine, heroin, LSD or similar drugs can face life imprisonment, while other drug-related offences carry different prison terms depending on the offence.
Beyond his position on drug trafficking, Obi urged other presidential candidates to avoid making campaign promises that they would be unable to fulfil if elected. He called on politicians to focus on the challenges confronting Nigerians and engage directly with citizens about possible solutions.
He also pledged that, if elected president, he would spend his annual holidays in Nigeria rather than travelling abroad.
According to Obi, the president should use such periods to remain connected with Nigerians, visit different parts of the country and interact with communities dealing with insecurity and other challenges.
The former governor is seeking to return to the presidential race in 2027 after contesting the 2023 election as the Labour Party’s candidate. He has since joined the NDC and emerged as its presidential candidate for the forthcoming election.
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