The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), has clarified that the agency is not against the controlled and regulated export of cannabis oil to countries that legally demand it, but remains firmly opposed to its local consumption in Nigeria.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ workshop themed “Cannabis Oil Debate: The Path Forward for Nigeria” organised by the Nigerian Academy of Science in Abuja on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, Marwa said the NDLEA welcomes open dialogue based on science, not sentiment or commercial pressure.
“At NDLEA, our position on cannabis oil is simple: we welcome dialogue. Nigeria must make informed choices, not those driven by half-truths or global trends,” Marwa said. “We are not opposed to science or innovation, we insist on caution. Policy must protect lives, safeguard public health, and strengthen our fight against drug abuse.”
According to Marwa, the agency will support the controlled export of cannabis oil for medicinal or industrial purposes under strict NDLEA supervision and limited to export free zones.
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“We are not opposed to exporting the oil to countries that desire it. But such activities must be strictly licensed, monitored, and regulated. Our concern is its local consumption in Nigeria,” he added.
Marwa warned that while cannabis oil has potential medical uses, it also poses serious risks to mental health, including anxiety, depression, psychosis, and addiction, particularly among the youth. He cited the 2018 national drug use survey, which showed 10.6 million Nigerians use cannabis, making the country one of the highest consumers globally.
He further explained that the lack of standardised production and regulation in many countries often leads to contamination and misuse of products sold as cannabis oil, a risk Nigeria cannot afford given its already high drug abuse prevalence rate of 14.4 percent — almost three times the global average.
Marwa also highlighted NDLEA’s Alternative Development Project, launched in 2023, as a sustainable approach to curb illicit drug cultivation and promote livelihoods in affected communities.
“The project seeks to reduce poverty, hunger, and unemployment that push people into illicit economies. It is our ethical responsibility to replace cannabis cultivation with legitimate, profitable alternatives,” he said.
Earlier, the President of the Nigerian Academy of Science, Prof. Abubakar Sambo (represented by Vice President Prof. Friday Okonofua), said the workshop aims to build a science-based consensus on cannabis oil use in Nigeria.
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The Chairman of the NAS Study Committee, Prof. Musbau Akanbi, commended the NDLEA for engaging the scientific community, noting that the findings from the study will guide Nigeria’s policy on cannabis oil.
In his remarks, Dr. Samuel Adekola, who represented the Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, described the forum as a turning point for Nigeria.
“This workshop gives us the opportunity to move from debate to design, from potential to policy. Together, we can craft a model that positions Nigeria as a leader in this emerging field,” Adekola said.
Delivering the keynote, Prof. Oye Gureje, Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health, University of Ibadan, said that while cannabis may have limited medical value, uncontrolled recreational use could heighten public health risks, including psychosis and road accidents.