Sowore Calls for Cannabis Legalization, Slams NDLEA Over Farm Destruction
The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress AAC Omoyole Sowore has criticized the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, over its destruction of cannabis farms, saying the policy wastes economic opportunities amid Nigeria’s poverty crisis.
In a statement posted on his social media handle on Monday, Sowore described the NDLEA’s practice of burning cannabis crops as idiotic.
“It is idiotic for NDLEA to wake up, put on uniforms, march into farms, and set economically viable crops worth millions of dollars ablaze while the country is drowning in multidimensional poverty,” he wrote.
Sowore urged the agency to stop the destruction, calling the current drug policy “failed and outdated.” He argued that Nigeria should instead legalize and properly regulate cannabis to tap into its economic value.
“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 said.
Cannabis also known as Indian Hemp remains illegal in Nigeria under the NDLEA Act and the National Drug Control Master Plan.
The agency routinely carries out raids and public burnings of cannabis farms, citing public health and security concerns.
Proponents of legalization in Nigeria and globally have pointed to the medicinal, industrial, and export potential of cannabis and hemp, especially in countries facing economic pressure.
