*Proffers solution for employment, economic development
By Ime Silas
Human rights activist and SaharaReporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, has sharply criticized the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, over its continued destruction of cannabis farms, describing the practice as “idiotic” and economically counterproductive in a country battling multidimensional poverty.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Sowore accused the agency of wasting national resources and ignoring what he called enormous economic opportunities tied to cannabis.
“It is idiotic NDLEA to wake up, put on uniforms, march into farms, and set economically viable crops worth millions of dollars ablaze while your country is drowning in multidimensional poverty,” Sowore said.
“Stop destroying cannabis farms. Stop wasting enormous economic opportunities in the name of a failed and outdated policy.”
The activist argued that Nigeria’s current approach to cannabis — rooted in prohibition and periodic raids — has failed to curb use while simultaneously shutting the door on potential revenue, jobs, and industrial growth.
“Legalize and properly regulate cannabis. Invest in research, harness its legitimate medicinal and industrial potential, create jobs, generate revenue, and build an industry Nigerians can benefit from,” he added.
“You cannot burn your way out of poverty, foolish people!”
Cannabis remains classified as an illicit drug in Nigeria under the NDLEA Act and the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs to which Nigeria is a signatory. The agency routinely carries out raids and public destruction of cannabis farms, particularly in parts of Ondo, Edo, and other southwestern states where cultivation is prevalent.
NDLEA has consistently defended the operations, saying they are necessary to disrupt supply chains, reduce drug abuse, and protect public health. The agency maintains that cannabis is a gateway drug and that tolerance would worsen Nigeria’s substance abuse crisis.
However, proponents of reform, including Sowore, point to the global shift toward legalization and regulation. Countries including Canada, Germany, Thailand, and several U.S. states have moved to legalize cannabis for medical and recreational use, generating billions in tax revenue and creating thousands of jobs in cultivation, processing, research, and retail.
In Africa, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, and Malawi have legalized cannabis cultivation for medical and industrial purposes. Nigeria’s own National Drug Control Master Plan has also, in recent years, begun to discuss medical cannabis research, though cultivation for commercial use remains prohibited.
Economic Argument Gains Traction
Nigeria is currently ranked among countries with the highest number of people living in multidimensional poverty, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. With youth unemployment above 30% and pressure on government revenue, voices calling for alternative industries have grown louder.
Sowore’s remarks tap into that frustration. Advocates argue that a regulated cannabis industry could provide income for farmers, reduce rural poverty, and fund healthcare and education through taxation, while strict regulation would allow government oversight.
Pundits however, warn that legalization without strong institutions could increase abuse and complicate law enforcement in a country already grappling with insecurity and drug trafficking.
Sowore, who ran for president in 2019 and 2023 on the African Action Congress platform, has long campaigned for policy reforms he says prioritize citizens’ welfare over punitive enforcement.
As of press time, NDLEA had not responded to Sowore’s comments.
The debate points to a growing tension between enforcement-driven drug policy and economic realities, as Nigerians continue to ask whether prohibition is still serving the country, or whether it is time for a new approach.
