NDLEA Backs Controlled Export of Cannabis Oil, Opposes Local Consumption

By Oluwakemi Kindness

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it is not opposed to the controlled export of cannabis oil for medical and industrial purposes but maintains firm opposition to its local consumption in Nigeria.

Chairman/Chief Executive of the Agency, Brigadier-General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), made this clear on Wednesday in Abuja at a stakeholders’ workshop themed “Cannabis Oil Debate: The Path Forward for Nigeria”, organized by the Nigerian Academy of Science.

Marwa said the Agency welcomes dialogue on the issue but warned that any policy shift must be rooted in science, evidence, and public safety rather than commercial interests or global trends.

“At NDLEA, our position on cannabis oil is simple: we welcome dialogue. We are not opposed to science or innovation, but we insist on caution. Policy must protect lives, safeguard public health, and strengthen—not weaken—our fight against drug abuse,” he said.

The NDLEA boss according to a statement by it spokesperson, Femi Babafemi emphasized that while some countries have approved cannabis oil for therapeutic purposes, Nigeria’s context demands a cautious approach, given the nation’s high burden of substance abuse.

He revealed that Nigeria has an estimated 10.6 million cannabis users and a 14.4% substance abuse prevalence rate, more than double the global average of 5.6%.

According to Marwa, evidence shows cannabis and its extracts can cause dependence, mental health challenges including anxiety, depression, psychosis, and cognitive impairment, especially among young people.

 

He added that unregulated products in many countries often vary in potency and are prone to contamination.

He however clarified that NDLEA would not be averse to cannabis oil being exported under strict regulation and licensing within export-free zones, as part of efforts to boost Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings.

On broader reforms, Marwa highlighted the Agency’s Alternative Development Project launched in 2023 to provide sustainable livelihoods and curb illicit drug cultivation.

He said the initiative, the first of its kind in Africa, is designed to tackle poverty, ignorance, unemployment, and underdevelopment that push communities into drug economies.

Welcoming participants earlier, President of the Nigerian Academy of Science, Prof. Abubakar Sambo—represented by Vice President, Prof. Friday Okonofua—said the workshop is aimed at producing an evidence-based consensus on cannabis oil for Nigeria.

Chair of the NAS study committee, Prof. Musbau Akanbi, commended NDLEA’s proactive engagement with scientists, while Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, represented by Dr. Samuel Adekola, urged stakeholders to craft policies that balance health benefits with economic opportunities.

In his keynote, Prof. Oye Gureje, Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health at the University of Ibadan, noted that while cannabis has “some limited medical use,” widespread recreational consumption would significantly heighten risks of psychosis and road accidents.