The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is prepared to consider the controlled export of cannabis oil for foreign exchange earnings but remains firmly against its legalisation for consumption within Nigeria.
This position was articulated by the agency’s Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), during a stakeholders’ workshop in Abuja.
Speaking at the event with the theme, “Cannabis Oil Debate: The Path Forward for Nigeria” and organized by the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS), Brig. Gen. (rtd) stressed that any potential export framework must be strictly regulated.
“The Agency will not be averse to the idea of controlled export of cannabis oil to foreign companies and countries who desire it,” he stated.
“However, such must be strictly controlled, licensed and monitored by NDLEA with such process located only within export free zones.”
The NDLEA chairman explained that the agency’s primary concern is the significant public health risk associated with local consumption, given Nigeria’s already high rate of drug abuse.
He highlighted a 2018 survey indicating that 10.6 million Nigerians use cannabis, and the nation’s substance abuse prevalence rate of 14.4% far exceeds the global average of 5.6%.
“Evidence shows that cannabis, including its oil extracts, can have adverse effects on mental health, especially among young people,” Marwa cautioned, linking prolonged use to anxiety, psychosis, and cognitive impairment.
He added that the NDLEA has commissioned the NAS to conduct a scientific study to ensure future policies are guided by evidence rather than commercial interests.
Supporting this cautious approach, keynote speaker Prof. Oye Gureje, a director at a WHO Collaborating Centre, noted that while cannabis has “some limited medical use,” its widespread recreational use is “likely to lead to increased risk of psychosis.”
The workshop was convened to foster an evidence-based consensus on the issue.
Prof. Friday Okonofua, representing the NAS President, affirmed that the goal is to produce a documented scientific consensus to guide Nigeria’s policy decisions regarding cannabis.
This sentiment was echoed by representatives from the Ondo State government and the NAS study committee, who called for a balanced dialogue that weighs both the potential economic benefits and the undeniable public safety risks.
Reporting By Nosa Aituamen