Bill to repeal Terrorism (Prevention) Act scales second reading

A Bill to repeal Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 and replace with Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act on Tuesday scaled second reading at the House of Representatives.
Sponsor of the Bill, Hon. Kayode Oladele, said that measures to combat kidnapping and hijacking were incorporated in the new bill.
Oladele said that the bill would provide measures for suppressing the financing of terrorism in the country.
He explained that the move became necessary to enable Nigeria effectively implement international instruments on the prevention and combating of terrorism.
He said: “Several fundamental changes were incorporated into the revised bill to ensure the domestication of international counter-terrorism conventions and protocols ratified by Nigeria in compliance with certain UN Security Council resolutions.”
He also stated that there was an expansion of the definition of what constituted terrorism.
He said: “The expansion of the definition of what constitutes acts of terrorism led to the improvements made to sections 12 and 13 of the bill to incorporate any weapon, explosive or other lethal devices to a terrorist group.
“Further, the crime of kidnapping and hijacking has now been incorporated into the bill.
“A new part was created to incorporate and criminalise offences such as hijacking of aircrafts, offences against the safety of civil aviation, offences against safety at airports serving military or civil aviation.
“Others are offences against the safety of ships or fixed platforms,’’ he added.
In his contribution, Hon. Edward Pwajok said that there was need for more effective judicial process in trying terrorists.
Pwajok said: “In view of the security challenges facing the country, this bill couldn’t have come at a better time. However, there is need for more effective processes in the trial of cases of terrorism.
“How many have been convicted? This is because our security agencies need to carry out thorough investigations before trials.”
Hon. Rotimi Agusoye said there was need for the country to address issue of porous borders, adding that the country needed to develop strong database for proper identification of Nigerians.