A Bill to repeal Terrorism, Prevention, Act, 2011 and enact Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill,Tuesday, scaled second reading in the House of Representatives.
Mr Kayode Oladele, who sponsored the Bill, said that measures to combat kidnapping and hijacking were incorporated into the new bill.
He said that the bill would provide measures for suppressing financing of terrorism in the country.
The lawmaker added that the move became necessary to enable Nigeria effectively implement international instruments on the prevention and combating of terrorism.
According to him, “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 added, “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 device 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, according to Oladele, are offences against the safety of ships or fixed platforms.
Edward Pwajok while contributing said there was need for more effective judicial process in trying terrorists.
On his part, Rotimi Agusoye said there was need for the country to address issue of porous borders, emphasising that the country needs to develop strong database for proper identification of Nigerian citizens.
