Human rights activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, has criticised the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency over its continued destruction of cannabis farms, urging the Federal Government to legalise and regulate the plant.
Sowore made the call in a post on X on Tuesday while reacting to the recent destruction of two cannabis plantations in Edo State by NDLEA operatives.
He argued that destroying the farms was an economic loss for Nigeria, particularly at a time when the country is battling poverty and unemployment.
According to him, rather than destroying cannabis crops, the government should establish a regulated industry that would allow Nigeria to benefit from the plant’s medicinal and industrial uses.
Sowore said, “Stop destroying cannabis farms. Stop wasting enormous economic opportunities in the name of a failed and outdated policy.”
He also called for increased investment in research and the development of a legal cannabis industry that could generate employment and government revenue.
“Legalise 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.
Sowore’s comments followed an announcement by the Edo State Command of the NDLEA that its operatives had destroyed two cannabis plantations with a combined estimated yield of 4,628.9825 kilogrammes.
The state commander, Mitchell Ofoyeju, said the operations were conducted based on credible intelligence.
He disclosed that the first plantation, located in Ugboku, Igbanke Forest, in Orhionmwon Local Government Area, covered about 0.699792 hectares and had an estimated yield of 1,749.26 kilogrammes.
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Ofoyeju said a 40-year-old suspect, Agholor Elebojie, was arrested in connection with the farm.
The second plantation, measuring approximately 1.151889 hectares, was estimated to have produced 2,879.7225 kilogrammes of cannabis. Two bags containing 12.4 kilogrammes of processed cannabis were also recovered.
The NDLEA commander said the operations were part of the agency’s nationwide campaign to dismantle illicit drug production sites.
Meanwhile, operatives also arrested 10 suspected drug traffickers during separate operations in Oluku, Ovia North-East Local Government Area, and Abuja Quarters in Oredo Local Government Area of Benin City.
Ofoyeju said 28-year-old Kingsley Anigala was arrested in Oluku on August 14 with 25.857 kilogrammes of cannabis and 93 grammes of methamphetamine.
Nine other suspects were arrested at Abuja Quarters on August 13, with substances including cannabis, Loud, tramadol, diazepam, Swinol, Danabol and methamphetamine.
The NDLEA said the suspects remained in custody as investigations continued ahead of their prosecution.