The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa (Rtd), says the agency supports the idea of regulated export of cannabis oil for medical and economic purposes but remains firmly against its local consumption in Nigeria.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ workshop organised by the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) in Abuja on Wednesday, Marwa said the dialogue on cannabis oil was “a welcome and necessary step” towards an informed national position on the subject.
“At NDLEA, our position on cannabis oil is simple: we welcome dialogue. We believe Nigeria must make informed choices, not ones driven by half-truths or commercial interests,” Marwa said.
He emphasised that while cannabis oil may have medicinal value, it also carries significant health and social risks that must not be ignored.
“NDLEA is not opposed to science or innovation. But policy must protect lives and public health,” he added.
Marwa clarified that the agency would not oppose the controlled and licensed export of cannabis oil to countries that legally demand it, provided such activities are strictly regulated and limited to export processing zones.
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He warned, however, that the NDLEA would resist any attempt to permit domestic consumption, noting that Nigeria already faces a high rate of drug abuse.
“With 14.4 percent drug abuse prevalence — far above the global average — and over 10 million cannabis users, the dangers are real,” he said.
The NDLEA boss further disclosed that the agency had commissioned an ongoing study with the Nigerian Academy of Science to better understand the implications of cannabis oil production and use.
He added that the agency’s Alternative Development Project, launched in 2023, aims to tackle the root causes of illicit drug cultivation by addressing poverty, unemployment, and underdevelopment in rural areas.