Omoyele Sowore has criticised the NDLEA for destroying cannabis farms in Edo State, urging the Federal Government to legalise and regulate cannabis cultivation to create jobs and generate revenue.
Human rights activist and African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has called on the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to stop destroying cannabis farms in Nigeria.
Sowore made the call after the NDLEA destroyed two cannabis plantations in Edo State with an estimated combined yield of 4,628.9 kilogrammes.
In a post on X on Tuesday, Sowore described the destruction of the cannabis farms as a waste of economic opportunities, particularly at a time when Nigeria is battling poverty and unemployment.
He urged the Federal Government to legalise and properly regulate cannabis cultivation, arguing that the plant has significant medicinal and industrial potential.
According to Sowore, a regulated cannabis industry could support research, create jobs, attract investment and increase government revenue.
He said the country should explore the legitimate economic uses of cannabis rather than destroy farms cultivating the plant.
NDLEA destroys cannabis plantations in Edo.
The Edo State Commander of the NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, had announced that the agency destroyed two cannabis plantations following credible intelligence.
The first plantation, located at Ugboku in the Igbanke Forest area of Orhionmwon Local Government Area, covered 0.699792 hectares and had an estimated yield of 1,749.26 kilogrammes.
Ofoyeju said a 40-year-old suspect, Agholor Elebojie, was arrested in connection with the farm.
The second cannabis plantation measured 1.151889 hectares and had an estimated yield of 2,879.7225 kilogrammes. The NDLEA also recovered two bags of processed cannabis sativa weighing 12.4 kilogrammes.
The commander said the operation was carried out in line with the directive of the NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, to dismantle illicit drug locations across the country.
10 suspected drug traffickers arrested.
The NDLEA also arrested 10 suspected drug traffickers during separate operations in Edo State.At Oluku in Ovia North-East Local Government Area, operatives arrested 28-year-old Kingsley Anigala on August 14 with 25.857 kilogrammes of cannabis and 93 grammes of methamphetamine.
At Abuja Quarters in Oredo Local Government Area of Benin City, nine suspects were arrested on August 13.
The NDLEA said various illicit substances, including cannabis sativa, loud, tramadol, diazepam, Swinol, Danabol and methamphetamine, were recovered during the operation.
The agency said all the suspects remained in custody while investigations continued ahead of prosecution.
Sowore calls for cannabis regulation.
Sowore maintained that Nigeria should consider a regulated cannabis industry instead of continuing to destroy cannabis plantations.
He argued that legalisation and regulation could allow the country to benefit from cannabis research, medicinal applications, industrial production, employment opportunities and tax revenue.
The debate comes amid continuing enforcement efforts by the NDLEA against the cultivation, trafficking and distribution of illicit drugs across Nigeria.
