The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), has said the agency is not opposed to the controlled and regulated exportation of cannabis oil to countries that require it, but maintains its firm stance against domestic consumption in Nigeria.
Marwa made this known on Wednesday in Abuja during a stakeholders’ workshop themed “Cannabis Oil Debate: The Path Forward for Nigeria”, organized by the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS).
According to him, while the NDLEA welcomes dialogue on the subject, any decision regarding cannabis oil must be guided by scientific evidence and public health considerations, not commercial or global trends. “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,” he said. “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.”
Marwa explained that the NDLEA would support the controlled export of cannabis oil solely for foreign use under strict supervision, licensing, and monitoring within designated export-free zones. He, however, stressed that local consumption remains prohibited due to Nigeria’s high rate of substance abuse.“Nigeria already contends with a 14.4 percent substance abuse prevalence rate, against the global average of 5.6 percent, and about 10.6 million cannabis users,” he noted. “The risks—mental health disorders, addiction, and social costs—cannot be ignored.”
He added that the agency has commissioned a study with NAS to provide scientific guidance on cannabis oil, highlighting the need for a balanced national discussion that weighs both potential benefits and health risks.
Marwa also cited NDLEA’s Alternative Development Project, launched in 2023, as part of efforts to curb illicit drug cultivation by providing sustainable livelihood alternatives in rural communities. “The project aims to reduce vulnerabilities that push people into illicit economies, such as poverty and unemployment, while addressing the violence and social costs of drug cultivation,” he explained.
In his opening remarks, President of the Nigerian Academy of Science, Prof. Abubakar Sambo, represented by Vice President Prof. Friday Okonofua, said the workshop was designed to build evidence-based consensus on the use of cannabis oil in Nigeria. “At the end of this process, we hope to produce a scientifically grounded framework to guide national policy,” he said.
Chairman of the NAS Study Committee, Prof. Musbau Akanbi, commended the NDLEA for its proactive collaboration with the scientific community, noting that the committee’s findings would help ensure that any future policy on cannabis oil is based on credible data.
Representing Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Dr. Samuel Adekola urged participants to help craft a national policy that balances economic potential with public health priorities.
In his keynote address, Prof. Oye Gureje of the University of Ibadan, and Director, WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health, Neurosciences, and Substance Abuse, noted that while evidence suggests limited medical use for cannabis, widespread recreational use poses significant mental health and safety risks, including psychosis and road accidents.
The workshop brought together policymakers, scientists, medical experts, and civil society actors to examine the complexities of cannabis oil use, regulation, and potential exportation in Nigeria.
