The Senate on Thursday concurred with three bills transmitted by the House of Representatives seeking to expand the Federal Capital Territory judiciary, restructure the regulation of inland waterways and strengthen the legal framework for tobacco and nicotine products in Nigeria.
The bills approved by the Senate are the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, the National Inland Waterways Authority (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2026, and the National Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
Leading debate on the bills, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele said the FCT High Court amendment bill, HB. 1635, seeks to increase the number of judges of the court from 75 to 100.
He explained that the proposed expansion was necessary to reduce the growing backlog of cases before the court and ensure that judicial appointments reflect the federal character principle as provided under the Constitution.
On the National Inland Waterways Authority bill, HB. 790, Bamidele said the repeal and re-enactment became necessary following the Supreme Court judgment in the dispute between the Attorneys-General of Lagos State and the Federation.
According to him, the apex court’s decision limited the Federal Government’s regulatory powers over inland waterways to areas within its constitutional competence, leaving some provisions of the existing NIWA Act inconsistent with the Constitution.
He said the new bill redefines the jurisdiction of the authority, removes provisions nullified by the Supreme Court and eliminates areas of conflict between the Federal Government and state governments.
Bamidele added that the proposed law would also encourage private sector investment in inland water transport while strengthening navigation safety, environmental protection and sustainable development.
The Senate also concurred with the National Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill, listed as HB. 47 and HB. 1151, which seeks to update the 2015 Act.
The amendment extends regulation to emerging nicotine products, including non-combustible tobacco products and nicotine pouches, while retaining restrictions on access by minors and the use of tobacco products in public places.
Supporting the motion, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North, said although the Senate had the power to amend or reject bills transmitted by the House, there was no reason to alter the three measures because they aligned with important public policy objectives.
The bills were read a second time before the Senate dissolved into the Committee of the Whole, considered them clause by clause and passed all three for concurrence without amendment.
The bills will now be transmitted to the President for assent.
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