The Senate has proposed a bill prescribing life imprisonment for anyone found guilty of child sexual abuse, with no option for fines.
This decisive move marks a significant step towards protecting the rights and safety of children across the nation.
The proposal which is part of sweeping amendments to the Criminal Code Act under the Criminal code act (Amendment) Bill, 2025 is a concurrent bill initially passed by the House of Representatives.
Leading the debate on the bill, Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, said the amendment seeks to strengthen child protection laws and eliminate gender discrimination in the prosecution of sexual offences. The offence of defilement, which currently attracts a five-year jail term, would now carry life imprisonment under the proposed amendment.
You may also read:
- Senate directs Works Ministry to complete Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road
- LG autonomy: Comply with Supreme Court judgment, Senate tells states, LGs
- Nigeria’s Senate Approves death sentence for drug traffickers
In addition to life imprisonment for defiling minors, the Senate also proposed a 10-year jail term for rape, defined as the act of forcing a boy, girl, man or woman to have sex without their consent, whether in a brothel or any other premises.
In the new proposal, Clause 2(1), reads, “Any person who detains a man or boy, a girl or a woman against his or her will in any premises in order to have unlawful canal knowledge of him or her; in a brothel or any place, commits a felony and attracts a minimum jail term of 10 years, on conviction.”
However, after intense discussions and consideration of an abortion clause owing to the religious implications, citing the need for more clarity on some provisions, the Senate eventually stepped down further consideration of the bill, referring it to the senate committee on Judiciary and human rights for further consideration to report back in two weeks
Senate Passes Bill To Establish Mines Rangers Service
In another development, the Senate, on Tuesday, passed a bill seeking to establish the Nigeria Mines Rangers Service — a specialised security outfit designed to combat illegal and artisanal mining activities across the country.
Sponsored by Senator Mohammed Onawo (SDP–Nasarawa), the bill aims to provide a legal framework for safeguarding mining operations, enforcing environmental and safety regulations, and promoting sustainable mining practices in Nigeria’s extractive sector.
According to Onawo, the NMRS will be tasked with responsibilities such as curbing illegal mining, rescuing trapped miners, providing emergency medical response, investigating mining accidents, and ensuring compliance with mining standards.
“The establishment of the Nigeria Mines Rangers Service,” he said, “will help to safeguard mining operations, enforce mining environmental and safety regulations, and promote sustainable mining practices in Nigeria.”
During debate on the bill, several lawmakers described the proposed Mine Rangers Service as a timely initiative that would protect mining communities and secure natural resource sites from the menace of unregulated operators.
The bill, which was earlier considered and reported by the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development, headed by Senator Ekong Samson (Akwa Ibom South), scaled its third reading on Tuesday, marking a major legislative step toward its eventual establishment.
In his closing remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended the intent of the bill and called for dedication from those who would eventually serve in the new agency.
I pray those who will be working there will have patriotism in their mind and work to stop all illegal activities in our mines,” Akpabio said.
The passage of the NMRS bill comes amid growing concerns over the economic losses and security threats posed by illegal mining, which has been linked to environmental degradation, revenue leakage, and violent conflicts in mineral-rich regions.
