Reps okay terrorism act repeal for second reading

THE House of Representatives on Tuesday passed for second reading a bill to repeal the Terrorism Act, 2011 and enact the Terrorism Act, 2018.

The proposed Terrorism Act 2018 is to provide for measures for the detection, prevention, enforcement, combating and prohibition of acts of terrorism for the effective implementation of international instruments on the prevention and combating of terrorism and suppression of the financing of terrorism.

Giving insight during plenary, it sponsor, Honourable Kayode Oladele explained that the bill sought to establish institutional frameworks including the Nigeria Sanctions Committee for the implementation, coordination and enforcement of its provisions.

Honourable Oladele noted that the bill sought to domesticate certain International Conventions and United Nations Resolutions which has been signed and ratified by Nigeria.

He added that “the bill is currently in conformity with the UNODC model legislative provisions against terrorism and the African model antiterrorism law, 2011”.

Some fundamental changes incorporated into the bill as noted by the lawmaker are the expanded definition of what constitutes acts of terrorism and the crime of hostage taking, kidnapping and hijacking.

According to Honourable Oladele, “the bill incorporates any act which is deliberately done with malice aforethought and which involves or causes the manufacture, possession, acquisition, transportation, transfer, supply or use of weapons including explosives or biological chemical or nuclear weapons among others without lawful authority”.

Honourable Simon Arabor said that “I support the second reading because it seeks to incorporate the relevant section of the terrorism in one bill. The bill is overdue and should be supported”.

Other lawmakers including Honourable Nnena Elendu-Ukeje, Rotimi Agunsoye amongst other gave their full support for the passage of the bill.

The Speaker, Honourable Yakubu Dogara later referred the bill to the House Committee on Security and Intelligence for further legislative input.